Date

9-25-2025

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)

Chair

Mollie Evans, Boyd

Keywords

CSA, report, social media

Disciplines

Counseling

Abstract

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to understand the lived experience of those survivors of CSA through social media platforms. Social media platforms have become one of the best options for survivors to share their stories without revealing their identities. As a result, the researcher invited the users of social media platforms to participate in an interview to share their stories. The theory guided by this study of understanding the lived experience of this individual was the Social Ecological Model (SEM) and psychoeducational intervention through Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). SEM aimed to understand how the child’s environment affects their decision to report the abuse. The results of this study can be used to create prevention programs to help survivors of CSA recognize signs of CSA and the importance of reporting the abuse. TF-CBT can be used to develop programs to prepare professionals to become culturally competent when dealing with cases of those reporting CSA. 15 participants were interviewed through semi-interview structured via zoom. The results demonstrated that survivors of CSA decided to share their experiences on social media to look for support and advice from other users. Other survivors also reached out to others to motivate others and prevent another abuse. Future studies should focus on creating intervention for the users to report the abuse through social media platforms.

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