A common factor between these studies is the potential for interpersonal relationships to promote healing. Notably, receiving positive feedback following disclosure (being believed, listened to, supported) was associated with similar levels of psychological distress and sexual satisfaction as those who had not experienced sexual assault1 . Also, being in a satisfying romantic relationship may protect against sexual difficulties sometimes experienced by survivors of childhood sexual abuse2 .
According to a yet unpublished study, people who experienced childhood sexual abuse and grew up in a family environment with little abuse and neglect had similar sexual and relational well-being in adulthood as people who did not experience such trauma. More specifically, while emotional abuse is, for example, a child being belittled and insulted by a parent figure, emotional neglect is a failure of parent figures to act in a way that meets the child's emotional needs3 .
A new study conducted by our team adds to these promising findings for survivors. The participants in our study have experienced at least one childhood sexual assault. A majority of the participants in our study expressed some sexual difficulties (emotionally disinvested, compulsive, rare or absent sexuality) and relationship difficulties (instability, violence) as adults. However, two elements seem to stand out for participants who experience more fulfilling intimate and sexual relationships. One is being in an intimate relationship with a partner who makes them feel safe and is respectful of their needs and boundaries.
The other element is developing dispositional mindfulness in the wake of these significant traumas. Mindfulness is the state of awareness that emerges when we pay attention to our experiences in the present moment, with acceptance and without judgment4 . Mindfulness is often affected by the experience of childhood sexual abuse or, more generally, interpersonal trauma. However, it may help survivors heal from difficult experiences5 . Indeed, a human coping strategy for difficult experiences is to avoid being in the present moment. Although useful in the short term to regain psychological balance, this strategy is harmful in the long term for survivors, as it prevents healing from trauma. Improving dispositional mindfulness in survivors of childhood trauma, such as sexual abuse, may promote sexual and relational well-being in these individuals6 .
Our study results show that both mindfulness and safe intimate relations feed off each other in helping survivors of childhood sexual abuse and psychological maltreatment heal from their trauma. Indeed, the fact of meeting a secure intimate partner may promote dispositional mindfulness. Furthermore, working on one's dispositional mindfulness, for example, through meditation practice, may help survivors to engage in more secure intimate relationships in the future. This seems to allow for a virtuous circle towards healing, as both seem to feed off each other to provide a recovery process for survivors. Indeed, they both may encourage a greater awareness of one's needs and limits, which is very important for sexuality and intimacy. In sum, although the experience of childhood sexual abuse is most often traumatic, our team's recent studies reinforce the importance of the survivor's entourage and their dispositional mindfulness. They convey a message that emphasizes the ability of survivors to live a fulfilling sexual and relational life, even in the wake of traumatic childhood events.
*We would like to thank the Com-Sci-Con Quebec 2021 organization as well as the reading committee of the composi-thon (activity taking place within the framework of the congress allowing to obtain feedback on a piece popularizing science) for its feedback on this blog article.
The publication of this article was made possible thanks to our partner, the Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Intimate Relationship Problems and Sexual Abuse (CRIPCAS), and the Fonds de recherche du Québec.
To cite this article: Dussault, É., & Godbout, N. (2021, December 7). Healing from childhood sexual abuse: a beacon of hope for survivors. TRACE Blog. https://natachagodbout.com/en/blog/healing-childhood-sexual-abuse-beaco…;
- 1Therriault, C., Bigras, N., Hébert, M., & Godbout, N. (2020). All involved in the recovery: Disclosure and social reactions following sexual victimization. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 29(6), 661-679. doi: 10.1080/10926771.2020.1725210
- 2Baumann, M., Bigras, N., Paradis, A., & Godbout, N. (2020). It’s good to have you: The moderator role of relationship satisfaction in the link between child sexual abuse and sexual difficulties. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623X.2020.1797965
- 3Bigras, N., Godbout, N., Hébert, M., & Sabourin, S. (2017). Cumulative adverse childhood experiences and sexual satisfaction in sex therapy patients: what role for symptom complexity?. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 14(3), 444-454. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2017.01.013
- 4Kabat‐Zinn, J. (2003). Mindfulness‐based interventions in context: past, present, and future. Clinical psychology: Science and practice, 10(2), 144-156.
- 5Godbout, N., Bakhos, G., Dussault, É., & Hébert, M. (2020). Childhood Interpersonal Trauma and Sexual Satisfaction: The Role of Mindfulness and Psychological Distress. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 46(1), 43-56. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623X.2019.1626309
- 6Gobout, N., Morissette Harvey, F., Cyr, G., & Bélanger, C. (2020b). Cumulative Childhood Trauma and Couple Satisfaction: Examining the Mediating Role of Mindfulness. Mindfulness, 11(7), 1723–1733. DOI: 10.1007/s12671-020-01390-x
