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Exploring trauma-related beliefs in the recovery and psychological health among female survivors of sexual violence in Johannesburg

Mini Dissertation (MA (Counselling Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2024.

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Other Authors: Matamela, Nyambeni
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2025
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Matamela, Nyambeni
author_browse Matamela, Nyambeni
author_facet Matamela, Nyambeni
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2023 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Mini Dissertation (MA (Counselling Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2024.
format Thesis
id oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/100953
institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:39:47.699Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2025
publishDateRange 2025
publishDateSort 2025
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
record_format dspace
source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/100953 Exploring trauma-related beliefs in the recovery and psychological health among female survivors of sexual violence in Johannesburg Matamela, Nyambeni kayla.d.visagie@gmail.com Visagie, Kayla Dawn UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Sexual violence Trauma-related beliefs Female survivors Psychological health Coping Mini Dissertation (MA (Counselling Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2024. Background: Exposure to traumatic events is a common occurrence, particularly in a society such as South Africa where violence is so prevalent. Aim of the study: The intention of this study is to provide an understanding of how survivorsof traumatic sexual violence make sense of their experiences over time, and the potential impact the traumatic assault may have had on them. Methodology: Situated within a phenomenological framework, the research process included semi-structured interviews with a sample of eight South African adult woman survivors of sexual violence who were recruited from the organisation, People Opposing Woman Abuse, at the Nthabiseng Centre in Soweto. The reported ethnicity across the sample was largely black African from low to middle socioeconomic backgrounds. Participants were interviewed to gather more information on their past sexual violence experience/s, current trauma-related beliefs about the world, others and themselves, as well as coping mechanisms and current levels of functioning. Results: Data analysis was conducted through thematic analysis which allowed several themes to emerge. Themes included: Powerlessness; Loss and Betrayal; Stigmatisation, Self-Blame and Low Self-Esteem; and Sexual Aversion. Moreover, themes of Interpersonal Effects and Coping Mechanisms were also significant among the findings. From the themes that emerged, it can be concluded that the exposure to traumatic sexual violence resulted in the development of trauma-related beliefs as mentioned in Finkelhor & Browne’s model. However, it appeared that in some instances these factors manifested slightly differently in this group of South African survivors. Consequently, participants presented with an excess of maladaptive coping mechanisms. Recommendations: Future research is needed with larger and more diverse samples in South Africa. None Psychology MA (Counselling Psychology) Unrestricted Faculty of Humanities None 2025-02-15T11:32:05Z 2025-02-15T11:32:05Z 2025-05-02 2024-10-20 Mini Dissertation * A2025 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/100953 * en © 2023 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle UCTD
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Sexual violence
Trauma-related beliefs
Female survivors
Psychological health
Coping
Exploring trauma-related beliefs in the recovery and psychological health among female survivors of sexual violence in Johannesburg
title Exploring trauma-related beliefs in the recovery and psychological health among female survivors of sexual violence in Johannesburg
title_full Exploring trauma-related beliefs in the recovery and psychological health among female survivors of sexual violence in Johannesburg
title_fullStr Exploring trauma-related beliefs in the recovery and psychological health among female survivors of sexual violence in Johannesburg
title_full_unstemmed Exploring trauma-related beliefs in the recovery and psychological health among female survivors of sexual violence in Johannesburg
title_short Exploring trauma-related beliefs in the recovery and psychological health among female survivors of sexual violence in Johannesburg
title_sort exploring trauma related beliefs in the recovery and psychological health among female survivors of sexual violence in johannesburg
topic UCTD
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Sexual violence
Trauma-related beliefs
Female survivors
Psychological health
Coping
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/100953