The Phenomenon of Comparative Development Between Female Survivors and Their Partners: Implications for Couples Therapy

Abstract

The aim of this phenomenological study was to better understand the influences of families of origin on couple relationships when the female was a childhood sexual abuse survivor. Six couples participated in semi-structured individual interviews and each individual completed two-week diaries. The findings revealed that female survivors and their partners had comparable developmental histories. Implications for practice include the importance of recognizing that (1) male partners who had developmental experiences that were similar to those of their partners may contribute to the difficulties in the current couple relationship; and (2) both partners' developmental experiences should be taken into consideration equally to facilitate the female survivors' recovery process.