(Re)activation of survival strategies during pregnancy and childbirth following experiences of childhood sexual abuse

TY - JOUR

T1 - (Re)activation of survival strategies during pregnancy and childbirth following experiences of childhood sexual abuse

AU - Roberts, Chelsey

AU - Montgomery, Elsa

AU - Richens, Yana

AU - Silverio, Sergio A.

N1 - Funding Information: Sergio A. Silverio (King’s College London) is supported by the National Institute for Health Research Applied Research Collaboration South London [NIHR ARC South London] at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Copyright: Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

PY - 2023/3/15

Y1 - 2023/3/15

N2 - Objectives: To explore the pregnancy and childbearing experiences of women-survivors of childhood sexual abuse [CSA]. We aimed to generate a theory explaining those experiences for this population (women), this phenomenon (pregnancy and childbirth), and this context (those who have survived CSA). Method: Participants (N=6) were recruited to semi-structured interviews about their experiences of CSA and subsequent pregnancy and childbirth. Data saturated early, and were analysed using Grounded Theory (appropriate to cross-disciplinary health research). Coding was inductive and iterative, to ensure rigour and achieve thematic saturation. Results: Open and focused coding led to the generation of super-categories, which in-turn were collapsed into three distinct, but related themes. These themes were: Chronicity of Childhood (Sexual) Abuse; Pregnancy and Childbirth as Paradoxically (Un)safe Experiences; Enduring Nature of Survival Strategies. The relationship between these themes was explained as the theory of: (Re)activation of Survival Strategies during Pregnancy and Childbirth following Experiences of Childhood Sexual Abuse. Conclusion: Pregnancy and childbirth can be triggering for women-survivors of CSA. Survival strategies learnt during experiences of CSA can be (re)activated as a way of not only coping, but surviving (the sometimes unconsented) procedures, such as monitoring and physical examinations, as well as the feelings of lack of control and bodily agency.

AB - Objectives: To explore the pregnancy and childbearing experiences of women-survivors of childhood sexual abuse [CSA]. We aimed to generate a theory explaining those experiences for this population (women), this phenomenon (pregnancy and childbirth), and this context (those who have survived CSA). Method: Participants (N=6) were recruited to semi-structured interviews about their experiences of CSA and subsequent pregnancy and childbirth. Data saturated early, and were analysed using Grounded Theory (appropriate to cross-disciplinary health research). Coding was inductive and iterative, to ensure rigour and achieve thematic saturation. Results: Open and focused coding led to the generation of super-categories, which in-turn were collapsed into three distinct, but related themes. These themes were: Chronicity of Childhood (Sexual) Abuse; Pregnancy and Childbirth as Paradoxically (Un)safe Experiences; Enduring Nature of Survival Strategies. The relationship between these themes was explained as the theory of: (Re)activation of Survival Strategies during Pregnancy and Childbirth following Experiences of Childhood Sexual Abuse. Conclusion: Pregnancy and childbirth can be triggering for women-survivors of CSA. Survival strategies learnt during experiences of CSA can be (re)activated as a way of not only coping, but surviving (the sometimes unconsented) procedures, such as monitoring and physical examinations, as well as the feelings of lack of control and bodily agency.

KW - Childhood Sexual Abuse

KW - Women's Mental Health

KW - Birth Trauma

KW - Bodily Agency

KW - Childbirth

KW - Maternity Care

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85114762421

U2 - 10.1080/02646838.2021.1976401

DO - 10.1080/02646838.2021.1976401

M3 - Article

SN - 0264-6838

VL - 41

SP - 152

EP - 164

JO - Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology

JF - Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology

IS - 2

ER -