Micaela Lombard
62453084
HMPYC80
Research Proposal: Assignment 8 (722418)
,Title: Understanding the later psychological functioning of adult male survivors of childhood
sexual abuse in South Africa.
Author: 62453084
Abstract:
This proposal will inquire into the later psychological functioning of South African adult males,
aged 19 to 45 years, who are survivors of childhood sexual abuse from a developmental
psychopathology perspective. Complex trauma theory and its applicability is also briefly discussed.
Volunteer and purposive sampling strategies will be employed to gather the population sample for
this qualitative study with an interpretative phenomenological research strategy. A discussion on the
protective and coping strategies will also be presented to explain populations who had endured
sexual abuse but did not present with psychopathology. Individual, direct and semi-structured
interviews will be utilised as the data collection method and interpretative data analysis will be
utilised to code and analyse the data.
,PLAGIARISM DECLARATION:
1. I know that plagiarism means taking and using the ideas, writings, works or inventions of another
asif they were one’s own. I know that plagiarism not only includes verbatim copying, but also the
extensive use of another person’s ideas without proper acknowledgement (which includes the
proper use of quotation marks). I know that plagiarism covers the use of material found in textual
sources and from the Internet.
2. I acknowledge and understand that plagiarism is wrong.
3. I understand that my assignment must be accurately referenced.
4. This research proposal is my own work. I acknowledge that copying someone else’s research, or
part of it, is wrong, and that submitting identical work to others constitutes a form of plagiarism.
5. I have not allowed, nor will I in the future allow, anyone to copy my work with the intention
ofpassing it off as their own work.
6. I confirm that I have read and understood UNISA’s Policy for Copyright and Plagiarism -
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Apply-for-admission/Master%27s-&- doctoral-
degrees/Policies,-procedures-&-forms
Name: Micaela Lombard Student No: 62453084
Signed: MLombard Date: 2022-11-21
, Keywords: developmental psychopathology
psychological functioning
childhood sexual abuse
South Africa
childhood sexual abuse
qualitative
phenomenology
Introduction:
When analyzing the large volume of research literature dedicated to explore and explain child
sexual abuse (CSA) and later adult psychological functioning, the gap in literature addressing male
sexual abuse survivors is quite apparent. This qualitative study together with an interpretative
phenomenological research strategy, seeks to inform a deeper understanding of the psychological
functioning of male survivors of childhood sexual abuse from a developmental psychopathology
and complex trauma theory perspective. A discussion on the psychological functioning of adult
males who were victims of CSA would also benefit from an analysis of psychosocial protective
coping factors.
Clarification of the Research Issue:
Male survivors have long since been excluded from research on CSA. The real prevalence of CSA
is difficult to gauge due to the complex nature of the issue, data collection methods employed when
studying the issue, as well as victims’ hesitation to report the abuse. Despite the difficulty in
determining the actual prevalence of CSA, a worldwide study conducted over two decades found
the prevalence of female and male child sexual abuse were, respectively, 18% and 7,6% (Gagnier &
Collin-Vézina, 2016). Although these prevalence rate for males are quite concerning, studies
approximate that sexual abuse occurs three to four times more frequently than reported. There
existed a previous cultural belief that male sexual assault did not occur frequently and that, in the
case it did occur, it was not as harmful to their later psychological functioning. Additionally, male
victims may erroneously believe that they were not affected by the abuse and frame the abusive
incident in neutral, and even positive, terms (Romano & DeLuca, 2001). In contrast with this
misconception, the research describes a larger occurrence of behavioural issues present in males
who were sexually abused than females. These behavioural issues include a significantly larger
consumption of alcohol, increased aggressive and criminal behaviour and increased drug use and
truancy. Moreover, it has been found that males subjected to CSA attempted suicide at a marked
frequency when compared to females subjected to CSA (Garnefski & Arends, 1998) Despite the
62453084
HMPYC80
Research Proposal: Assignment 8 (722418)
,Title: Understanding the later psychological functioning of adult male survivors of childhood
sexual abuse in South Africa.
Author: 62453084
Abstract:
This proposal will inquire into the later psychological functioning of South African adult males,
aged 19 to 45 years, who are survivors of childhood sexual abuse from a developmental
psychopathology perspective. Complex trauma theory and its applicability is also briefly discussed.
Volunteer and purposive sampling strategies will be employed to gather the population sample for
this qualitative study with an interpretative phenomenological research strategy. A discussion on the
protective and coping strategies will also be presented to explain populations who had endured
sexual abuse but did not present with psychopathology. Individual, direct and semi-structured
interviews will be utilised as the data collection method and interpretative data analysis will be
utilised to code and analyse the data.
,PLAGIARISM DECLARATION:
1. I know that plagiarism means taking and using the ideas, writings, works or inventions of another
asif they were one’s own. I know that plagiarism not only includes verbatim copying, but also the
extensive use of another person’s ideas without proper acknowledgement (which includes the
proper use of quotation marks). I know that plagiarism covers the use of material found in textual
sources and from the Internet.
2. I acknowledge and understand that plagiarism is wrong.
3. I understand that my assignment must be accurately referenced.
4. This research proposal is my own work. I acknowledge that copying someone else’s research, or
part of it, is wrong, and that submitting identical work to others constitutes a form of plagiarism.
5. I have not allowed, nor will I in the future allow, anyone to copy my work with the intention
ofpassing it off as their own work.
6. I confirm that I have read and understood UNISA’s Policy for Copyright and Plagiarism -
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Apply-for-admission/Master%27s-&- doctoral-
degrees/Policies,-procedures-&-forms
Name: Micaela Lombard Student No: 62453084
Signed: MLombard Date: 2022-11-21
, Keywords: developmental psychopathology
psychological functioning
childhood sexual abuse
South Africa
childhood sexual abuse
qualitative
phenomenology
Introduction:
When analyzing the large volume of research literature dedicated to explore and explain child
sexual abuse (CSA) and later adult psychological functioning, the gap in literature addressing male
sexual abuse survivors is quite apparent. This qualitative study together with an interpretative
phenomenological research strategy, seeks to inform a deeper understanding of the psychological
functioning of male survivors of childhood sexual abuse from a developmental psychopathology
and complex trauma theory perspective. A discussion on the psychological functioning of adult
males who were victims of CSA would also benefit from an analysis of psychosocial protective
coping factors.
Clarification of the Research Issue:
Male survivors have long since been excluded from research on CSA. The real prevalence of CSA
is difficult to gauge due to the complex nature of the issue, data collection methods employed when
studying the issue, as well as victims’ hesitation to report the abuse. Despite the difficulty in
determining the actual prevalence of CSA, a worldwide study conducted over two decades found
the prevalence of female and male child sexual abuse were, respectively, 18% and 7,6% (Gagnier &
Collin-Vézina, 2016). Although these prevalence rate for males are quite concerning, studies
approximate that sexual abuse occurs three to four times more frequently than reported. There
existed a previous cultural belief that male sexual assault did not occur frequently and that, in the
case it did occur, it was not as harmful to their later psychological functioning. Additionally, male
victims may erroneously believe that they were not affected by the abuse and frame the abusive
incident in neutral, and even positive, terms (Romano & DeLuca, 2001). In contrast with this
misconception, the research describes a larger occurrence of behavioural issues present in males
who were sexually abused than females. These behavioural issues include a significantly larger
consumption of alcohol, increased aggressive and criminal behaviour and increased drug use and
truancy. Moreover, it has been found that males subjected to CSA attempted suicide at a marked
frequency when compared to females subjected to CSA (Garnefski & Arends, 1998) Despite the
