Röster från barndomen om upplevda sexuella övergrepp : - En studie baserad på vuxna kvinnors självbiografiska berättelser

The purpose of this study is to investigate adult women's experiences of sexual abuse by a close adult relative in their childhood. We have chosen to study two autobiographies written by women who themselves grew up in an environment where they were subjected to sexual abuse. The objective has been to analyze how these adult women remember their experience of circumstances perceived as positive and negative in their surrounding environment as children. Our empirical data will be analyzed using theories of risk and protective factors. The risk factors that will be analyzed include individual, family-based and community-level factors. The protective factors include individual characteristics, family patterns, close relationships and the significance of the community. The results show that the most prominent risk factors in the narratives are family-based, acting out behavior at school, self-blame and fear. The protective factors we could identify were significant relatives, awareness and empowering thoughts as well as school and friends. Overall the results indicate that the protective factors identified in the adult women´s narrative from their childhood have had a significant impact on the outcome of the risk factors to which the women were exposed to as children.