Assessing the Effects of Childhood Multitype Maltreatment on Adult Spirituality

Prior, Michael; Petra, Megan

doi:10.1007/s40653-019-00288-8

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 80 publications

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“…The question “why did this happen to me?” disturbs many survivors of sexual-related trauma (e.g., Bowland et al, 2011; Frazier et al, 2017). This should come as no surprise, since survivors suffer from multifaceted implications, including physical, psychological (cognitive and emotional), social, and contextual (Prior & Petra, 2020; Sinko et al, 2022). Among those implications are a sense of powerlessness (Ronel, 2008), self-blame and guilt (Peter-Hagene & Ullman, 2018), anger and frustration (Allen et al, 2017), loss of trust (Lahav et al, 2020), tendency to revictimization (Brenner et al, 2021), and lack of social recognition (Kirkner & Ullman, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

From Looking for Reason to Finding Meaning: A Spiritual Journey of Recovery From Sexual Trauma

Eytan

Ronel

2023

J Interpers Violence

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The current study aims to describe a spiritual facet of recovery processes from sexual trauma, as manifested in the transformation from the frustration and despair of looking for reasons to the traumatic event(s) to the growth and prosperity of finding meaning. A phenomenological research was conducted, interviewing individuals with a variety of affiliations to spirituality and to trauma: female survivors who turned to spirituality as part of their recovery process ( n = 17), spiritually oriented therapists who treat survivors ( n = 10), and spiritual leaders and teachers who are often consulted by survivors and their close ones ( n = 9). Participants were asked about the nature of perceived transformation of survivors’ trauma, within the meaning context, and about the perceived relevance of such a spiritual meaning-making process to recovery. Findings suggests four stances in the process:(1) doubting, describing frustrations, denials, and struggles, (2) believing, describing the acceptance of the idea that there is spiritual meaning in the trauma, (3) knowing, describing calmness, comfort, trust, and sense of freedom, and (4) doing, describing carrying the message of spiritual recovery to other survivors. This study contributes to the growing body of literature on victimology and on spirituality. It adds to the research on the spiritual meaning-making process, on the role of spirituality in survivors’ perceptions of victimization and recovery, and on the importance of spiritual meaning as a recovery capital. Additionally, it directs therapists to broaden their discussions with survivors on their beliefs and values. The study lays the foundation for a theory entitled Spiritual Victimology.

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