Volume 19, Issue 3
Shame Fee lings in Wome n Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse: Clinical implications
Abstract
Lifetime history of sexual abuse is estimated to range from 15% to 25% in general female population. The adverse effects of childhood sexual abuse in women survivors are well documented. Emotional processes have emerged as central for elucidating how these experiences affect mental health. One emotion that has recently received increased attention by researchers and clinicians is shame. As a self-oriented emotion, it has implications on the development of the self and encompasses the whole identity of the victim. Shame should be a focus in psychological interventions, helping the disclosure process, reducing the vulnerability to severe consequences and mental health problems associated with childhood sexual abuse.
Keywords
shame, childhood sexual abuse, child abuse, sexual abuse, women survivors