Experiences and Meanings of Hope for Adult Male Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse

303 Pages·2014·3.38 MB·English

Experiences and Meanings of Hope for Adult Male Survivors of Childhood Sexual
Abuse: A Narrative Exploration
by

Sherry Rodrigues Antonucci

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
in
Counselling Psychology

Department of Educational Psychology

University of Alberta

©Sherry Rodrigues Antonucci 2014
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Abstract

Male childhood sexual abuse (MCSA) is an issue that remains in the recesses of
our social awareness. Only recently has the impact of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) on
adult male survivors begun to receive research attention. The landscape of literature on
MCSA has served to highlight the plethora of the often persistent and long-term
psychological struggles experienced by many adult male survivors. While this research
has greatly contributed to our understanding of this under-studied population, little is
known about the experiences of hope for male survivors. Researchers and clinicians alike
speak to the importance of hope within the healing process for survivors of CSA;
however, there are virtually no studies specifically exploring hope for male survivors. As
such, the purpose of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of hope in the lives
of men who were sexually abused in their childhood.
This study employed a narrative analytic methodology to examine the
experiences and meanings of hope for 6 adult male survivors of CSA. Methods for
gathering data included: (a) initial in-depth research conversations; (b) photo-assisted
conversations, (c) follow-up conversations; and (d) a researcher journal. Polkinghorne’s
(1995) narrative analysis and analysis of narrative approaches provided the primary
guiding framework from which the research conversations were interpreted. In addition,
the interpretation process was informed by aspects of the discourse analysis tradition.
From the blending of these analytical orientations, 6 individual chapters highlighting
participants’ unique stories of hope are presented. In addition, the thematic threads
common across participants’ accounts are discussed.
Within the separate participant chapters, a number of captivating narratives on
hope and CSA emerged, providing a faceted understanding of hope, distinct to each
participant. Across narratives, several shared thematic threads surfaced, including: (a)
Thinking Hope; (b) Embodied Hope; (c) Hope in Action; and (d) Hope in Relationship
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and Connection. In addition, the thematic idea of hope in relation to healing from CSA
was a theme unique to the experience of hope for participants. Potential implications for
working with male survivors within the context of counselling and therapeutic practice
are offered. Possible directions for future research are also presented.
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Preface

This thesis is an original work by Sherry Rodrigues Antonucci. No part of this thesis has
been previously published. This thesis received research ethics approval from the
University of Alberta Research Ethics Board, Project Name “Exploring hope with adult
male survivors of childhood sexual abuse, ID. 225, 20/04/12.
V

Dedication

This dissertation is dedicated to the six participants in this study. You all have
generously given of your time to share your experiences, struggles, and hopes.
Your strength and courage have inspired my own hope and
your words have continuously propelled me forward
throughout this research project.
To each of you, I am deeply thankful.

***

This dissertation is also dedicated to my vovô, Jose Luis Viveiros.
Mere words cannot express how much you are missed.
Your sense of humor, playfulness, and appreciation of the arts
has been most influential in my life.
I thank you for sharing your love of storytelling with me and I am
forever grateful for you and our time together.
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Acknowledgments

The completion of this dissertation would not have been possible without the
support and contribution of several individuals to whom I am tremendously grateful. First
and foremost, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to my dissertation
supervisor, Dr. Denise Larsen. Her insight and guidance are interwoven in the thoughts
and words of this document. I am deeply thankful for her patience, unwavering
encouragement, and positive regard for my work. I will forever be honoured to have been
supervised by such an exceptional clinician, researcher, and mentor.
I also am sincerely thankful to all the members of my dissertation committee for
their support and guidance: Dr. Rosemary Foster, Dr. Sophie Parkins, Dr. Ronna Jevne,
Dr. Frank Peters, and Dr. Helen Massfeller. Their insights, questions, and critiques have
ultimately strengthened the quality of this work.
This dissertation would not have been possible without the unconditional love,
patience, and support of my dear husband and life partner, Angelo. During the writing of
this document, we were blessed with two precious gifts, our sons, Matteo and Ottavio.
From them, I have learned to love deeper than I thought possible, to live in the present, to
play with abandonment, and to engage with hope in ways I had never anticipated. I am
also deeply grateful to my parents Grace and Arlindo Rodrigues. Without exception, they
have supported me in my endeavors to attain the highest standards of educational and
professional achievement. I am especially thankful to my greatest friend, my mom, who
has tirelessly walked with me throughout this long and challenging journey. She
embodies all that I hope to be as a mother. To my extended family and friends, I am
grateful for their encouragement throughout this experience. To an incredible woman,
esteemed colleague, and dear friend, Easter Yassa, her enduring support and loving
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presence has helped me through each and every challenge presented to me in the writing
process of this dissertation.
Finally, I extend my deepest appreciation to the participants in this study for their
willingness and support in further understanding and learning about the phenomenon of
hope. I am inspired by their wisdom, indomitable spirit, and stories of hope.
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Table of Contents
Chapter One: Introduction .................................................................................................. 1
Childhood Sexual Abuse ............................................................................................... 1
Hope ............................................................................................................................... 2
Research Question ......................................................................................................... 3
Methodology .................................................................................................................. 3
Reasons for the Study: A Personal Narrative ................................................................ 4
Comments on Terminology and Language Usage ......................................................... 5
Overview of Research Text ........................................................................................... 6
Chapter Two: Exploring the Literature ............................................................................... 8
Childhood Sexual Abuse ............................................................................................... 8
What is childhood sexual abuse? ................................................................................ 8
Prevalence of childhood sexual abuse ....................................................................... 10
The long-term impact of childhood sexual abuse ..................................................... 13
A gender comparison ................................................................................................ 21
Struggles with masculinity ........................................................................................ 23
Summary .......................................................................................................... 25
Hope ............................................................................................................................. 26
What is hope? ............................................................................................................ 27
Definitions of hope.................................................................................................... 27
A discursive understanding of hope .......................................................................... 29
Models of hope.......................................................................................................... 31
Value of hope ............................................................................................................ 37
Hope in psychology .................................................................................................. 38
Hope in counselling .................................................................................................. 38
Hope and trauma ....................................................................................................... 40
Hope and childhood sexual abuse ............................................................................. 41
Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 43
Chapter Three: A Journey of Journeys: Traversing the Qualitative Landscape ............... 44
Chapter Outline ............................................................................................................ 45
Part I ............................................................................................................................. 46
A Philosophical and Theoretical Backdrop to the Research Journey .......................... 46
Epistemology ............................................................................................................... 46
Theoretical Perspective ................................................................................................ 47
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Part II ........................................................................................................................... 49
The Narrative Thread Connecting Methodology, Methods, and Analysis .................. 49
What is Narrative? ....................................................................................................... 49
Features of Narrative Methodology ............................................................................. 50
Temporality and narrative ......................................................................................... 50
Relationality and narrative ........................................................................................ 51
Why Narrative? ............................................................................................................ 52
Methods for Gathering Data ........................................................................................ 53
Initial in-depth research conversations...................................................................... 54
Photo-assisted conversations ..................................................................................... 55
Research journal ........................................................................................................ 57
Research Participants ................................................................................................... 58
Participant selection .................................................................................................. 58
Participant recruitment .............................................................................................. 59
Research relationship ................................................................................................ 59
Responding to the Data: A Blending of Analysis Approaches .................................... 60
Bricolage: A blending of analytical orientations ...................................................... 61
Narrative analysis and analysis of narrative: An overview ....................................... 63
Discourse analysis: An overview .............................................................................. 63
The Interpretation Process ........................................................................................... 64
Narrative and discourse analysis process .................................................................. 64
Analysis of narratives process ................................................................................... 67
Part III .......................................................................................................................... 69
Study Legitimacy ......................................................................................................... 69
Persuasiveness ............................................................................................................. 69
Correspondence ........................................................................................................... 70
Coherence .................................................................................................................... 70
Pragmatic Use .............................................................................................................. 71
Part IV .......................................................................................................................... 72
Ethical Care of Participants ......................................................................................... 72
Canadian Code of Ethics .............................................................................................. 72
Consent ........................................................................................................................ 72
Anonymity ................................................................................................................... 73
Potential Risks of the Study ......................................................................................... 73
Part V ........................................................................................................................... 74
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Participant Descriptions: A Snapshot .......................................................................... 74
Roderick ....................................................................................................................... 74
Ben ............................................................................................................................... 75
Arnold .......................................................................................................................... 75
Kevin ............................................................................................................................ 75
Jason ............................................................................................................................ 76
Paul .............................................................................................................................. 76
Going Forth in the Journey: Presentation of Narratives .............................................. 76
Chapter Four: Conversations on Hope with Roderick ...................................................... 78
Hope and Childhood Sexual Abuse ............................................................................. 78
Hope for Survival ......................................................................................................... 78
A Fleeting Hope ........................................................................................................... 79
Hopelessness and Sexuality ......................................................................................... 80
The “Soul” and “Ego” of Hope .................................................................................... 81
A Community of the Past ............................................................................................. 82
Hope and Healing ........................................................................................................ 83
Spirituality ................................................................................................................... 83
Significant Elements of Hope ...................................................................................... 85
Hope and Connection ................................................................................................... 85
Risk It ........................................................................................................................... 86
Hope in Action ............................................................................................................. 87
Challenges to Hope ...................................................................................................... 88
My Own Thoughts ....................................................................................................... 88
Feelings of Abandonment ............................................................................................ 89
Hope and Hopelessness ............................................................................................... 90
Hope: A Double-Edged Sword .................................................................................... 90
Hope Hasn’t Completely Left Me ................................................................................ 92
Suicide: A choice ......................................................................................................... 92
Meanings of Hope ........................................................................................................ 94
Two Kinds of Hope ...................................................................................................... 94
A Grounded Hope ........................................................................................................ 95
Sources of Hope ........................................................................................................... 97
Valued by Others ......................................................................................................... 97
Relationship to Others and Self ................................................................................... 98
A Living Hope ............................................................................................................. 98
Hope in Connection ..................................................................................................... 99