Date
11-13-2024
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)
Chair
Deborah A. Braboy
Keywords
trauma, effects of trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sexual assault, childhood sexual abuse (CSA), resilience, religiosity, ordinal birth order
Disciplines
Arts and Humanities | Counseling
Recommended Citation
Walraven, Courtney Elizabeth, "College Females with a History of Childhood Sexual Abuse: The Impact of Birth Order and Religious Commitment on Resilience" (2024). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 6155.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/6155
Abstract
Traumatology is defined and expanded on concerning the common outcomes and sequela. The short- or long-term effects of trauma are discussed including the diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A description was given of the history and progression of the formal diagnosis of PTSD. A thorough explanation of PTSD diagnostic criteria, risk factors, cultural considerations, and protective factors were provided. A detailed explanation of sexual assault and the implications of this specific trauma on survivors/victims were provided. The impact of child sexual abuse in survivors was reviewed. Commonly used measurements of psychological resilience were reviewed. The impact of religiosity on resilience was examined. Implications of ordinal birth order on various aspects of a person’s functioning were identified. The findings indicated a history of child sexual abuse and birth order had no significant impact on resilience. Religiosity did have a statistically significant relationship with resilience while controlling for child sexual abuse. These findings were discussed in detail. Considerations for future research on the gaps in the literature regarding resilience, religiosity, and childhood sexual abuse survivors were identified.
