A Person-Centered Approach to Understanding Service Needs Following Sexual Assault

Maria Hardeberg Bach

doi:10.21996/dnqf-zj42

A Person-Centered Approach to Understanding Service Needs Following Sexual Assault

Bidragets oversatte titel: En personcentreret tilgang til at forstå støttebehov efter seksuelle overgreb

Maria Hardeberg Bach

Institut for Psykologi

Publikation: Afhandling › Ph.d.-afhandling

53 Downloads (Pure)

Abstrakt

Det er veldokumenteret, at overgrebsramte personer kan have et stort behov for hjælp som følge af det seksuelle overgreb (f.eks. juridiske, sundhedsmæssige og psykosociale behov).
Tilgængeligheden af et effektivt hjælpesystem til overgrebsramte er derfor af stor samfundsmæssig betydning. For at kunne imødegå overgrebsramtes behov, er specialiserede hjælpetilbud til overgrebsramte blevet oprettet i Danmark såvel som internationalt. Disse tilbud er desværre ikke tilgængelige for alle overgrebsramte og flere overgrebsramte finder ikke
tilbuddene hjælpsomme. Der stilles derfor i stigende grad spørgsmålstegn ved tilstrækkeligheden af det eksisterende hjælpesystem til overgrebsramte. Derfor var formålet med nærværende ph.d.- projekt at opnå en dybere forståelse af de mekanismer, som kan forklare uligheden i brugen af disse hjælpesystemer samt identificere måder, hvorpå hjælpen til marginaliserede og ”utilstrækkeligt hjulpne” (eng: underserved) overgrebsramte kan styrkes. Nærværende ph.d.-projekt er udarbejdet i forskningsgruppen THRIVE, Institut for Psykologi, Syddansk Universitet, i samarbejde med de danske centre for seksuelle overgreb. De danske centre for seksuelle overgreb tilbyder retsmedicinsk undersøgelse og specialiseret psykologisk behandling til overgrebsramte fra 12 år. Ph.d.-projektet består af tre undersøgelser. Den første undersøgelse er et systematisk scoping review, som søger at identificere hvilke overgrebsramte der i størst grad hjælpes utilstrækkeligt af formelle hjælpesystemer i vestlige lande, samt mulige årsager til denne utilstrækkelighed. Resultaterne af Artikel 1 indikerer, at
overgrebsramte med følgende karakteristika møder særlige eller flere barrierer i hjælpesystemet: Etniske minoriteter, funktionsnedsættelser, økonomisk sårbarhed, seksuelle og kønsminoriteter, psykiske lidelser, afhængighed og ældre alder. Artikel 2 er en kvalitativ interviewundersøgelse af perspektiver på sårbarhed og seksuelle overgreb blandt det multidisciplinære personale tilknyttet centrene for seksuelle overgreb (N = 18). Undersøgelsens deltagere består af retsmedicinere, 10 sygeplejersker, psykologer, socialrådgivere og efterforskere. De overgrebsramte, som fagpersonerne anså som værende mindst tilbøjelige til at opnå og have gavn af tilbuddet til overgrebsramte, var også dem, som fagpersonalet anså som værende mest sårbare med henblik på viktimisering. Endelig blev kvalitative interviews også anvendt i den tredje og sidste artikel til at afdække emnet blandt de overgrebsramte selv (N = 5). Artikel 3 viser, at oplevelsen af et seksuelt overgreb og følgevirkningerne af dette er subjektiv og formet af flere forhold. Artikel 3 illustrerede også de komplekse behov, som overgrebsramte kan have (eksempelvis præeksisterende psykiske lidelser, tidligere interpersonel viktimisering). Ph.d.-projektets samlede resultater diskuteres med baggrund i forskellige teoretiske rammer, herunder intersektionel teori. Tilsammen understreger ph.d.- projektet et behov for mere personcentrerede tilgange (dvs. individuelt tilpassede) i hjælpen til seksuelt overgrebsramte i Danmark såvel som internationalt.

Bidragets oversatte titel	En personcentreret tilgang til at forstå støttebehov efter seksuelle overgreb
Originalsprog	Engelsk
Bevilgende institution	Syddansk Universitet
Vejledere/rådgivere	Hansen, Maj, Hovedvejleder Hansen, Nina Beck, Bivejleder
Udgiver	Syddansk Universitet. Det Sundhedsvidenskabelige Fakultet
DOI	https://doi.org/10.21996/dnqf-zj42
Status	Udgivet - 13. okt. 2021

Emneord

voldtægt
seksuelle overgreb
det formelle hjælpesystem
sårbarhedsproblematikker
sameksisterende problematikker

Dokumenter og links

10.21996/dnqf-zj42

Open Access VersionForlagets udgivne version, 142 MB

2 Tidsskriftartikel

What Characterizes Vulnerability? Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Service Provision for Survivors of Sexual Assault
Bach, M. H., Beck Hansen, N. & Hansen, M., 1. aug. 2022, I: Journal of Interpersonal Violence. 37, 15-16, s. NP14140-NP14165
Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › peer review
Underserved survivors of sexual assault: a systematic scoping review
Bach, M. H., Beck Hansen, N., Ahrens, C., Nielsen, C. R., Walshe, C. & Hansen, M., 9. apr. 2021, I: European Journal of Psychotraumatology. 12, 1, 16 s., 1895516.
Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › peer review

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Ph.d.-projekt: En personcenteret tilgang til at forstå støttebehov efter seksuelle overgreb
Bach, M. H., Hansen, M. & Hansen, N. B.
01/03/2018 → 31/05/2021
Projekter: Projekt › Ph.d-projekt

Citationsformater

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title = "A Person-Centered Approach to Understanding Service Needs Following Sexual Assault",

abstract = "It is well-known that survivors of sexual assault can have extensive post-assault service needs (e.g., legal, medical, and mental health-related). The existence of effective formal support systems for survivors is thus of vital societal importance. To meet survivors{\textquoteright} needs, specialized sexual assault services have been developed internationally and in Denmark. Research suggeststhat specialized sexual assault services have promising effects in relation to survivor recovery. Unfortunately, sexual assault services are not equally attainable for all survivors, and not allsurvivors experience them as helpful. The success of existing service models has thus been increasingly questioned. Therefore, the goal of the present PhD study was to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that account for disparities in service utilization and identify ways that service delivery can be improved for marginalized and underserved survivors. The present PhD study was conducted at the research group THRIVE, the Department of Psychology, University of Southern Denmark, in collaboration with Danish Sexual Assault Centers (SACs). SACs offer specialized psychological treatment and acute forensic medical examination to survivors 12+. The PhD study consists of three studies. The first paper is a systematic scoping review that sought to identify which survivors are most underserved by formal support systems in Western countries and why they are underserved. The findings of Paper 1 suggest that survivors with the following characteristics face additional or unique barriers to service utilization: ethnic minorities, disabilities, financial vulnerability, sexual and gender minorities, mental health conditions, problematic substance use, and older age. The second paper used qualitative interviews to investigate multidisciplinary SAC providers{\textquoteright} (N = 18) perspectives on vulnerability in the context of sexual assault. Participants consisted of forensic doctors, nurses, psychologists, social workers, and police investigators. Survivors perceived to be least likely to obtain and benefit from services by SAC providers were also those considered most vulnerable 8 regarding experiences surrounding victimization. Qualitative interviews were also used in the third and final paper, but this study sought to explore the issue of underserved survivors from the perspective of survivors (N = 5). Paper 3 shows that the experience of sexual assault and its aftermath is subjective and that it is shaped by multiple factors. Paper 3 also demonstrated the complex needs experienced by some survivors (e.g., pre-existing mental health problems, prior interpersonal victimization). The combined findings of the PhD study are discussed using multiple frameworks, including intersectional theory. Taken together, the present research underscores the need for more person-centered (i.e., individually tailored) responses to survivors of sexual assault, internationally and in Denmark.",

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N2 - It is well-known that survivors of sexual assault can have extensive post-assault service needs (e.g., legal, medical, and mental health-related). The existence of effective formal support systems for survivors is thus of vital societal importance. To meet survivors’ needs, specialized sexual assault services have been developed internationally and in Denmark. Research suggeststhat specialized sexual assault services have promising effects in relation to survivor recovery. Unfortunately, sexual assault services are not equally attainable for all survivors, and not allsurvivors experience them as helpful. The success of existing service models has thus been increasingly questioned. Therefore, the goal of the present PhD study was to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that account for disparities in service utilization and identify ways that service delivery can be improved for marginalized and underserved survivors. The present PhD study was conducted at the research group THRIVE, the Department of Psychology, University of Southern Denmark, in collaboration with Danish Sexual Assault Centers (SACs). SACs offer specialized psychological treatment and acute forensic medical examination to survivors 12+. The PhD study consists of three studies. The first paper is a systematic scoping review that sought to identify which survivors are most underserved by formal support systems in Western countries and why they are underserved. The findings of Paper 1 suggest that survivors with the following characteristics face additional or unique barriers to service utilization: ethnic minorities, disabilities, financial vulnerability, sexual and gender minorities, mental health conditions, problematic substance use, and older age. The second paper used qualitative interviews to investigate multidisciplinary SAC providers’ (N = 18) perspectives on vulnerability in the context of sexual assault. Participants consisted of forensic doctors, nurses, psychologists, social workers, and police investigators. Survivors perceived to be least likely to obtain and benefit from services by SAC providers were also those considered most vulnerable 8 regarding experiences surrounding victimization. Qualitative interviews were also used in the third and final paper, but this study sought to explore the issue of underserved survivors from the perspective of survivors (N = 5). Paper 3 shows that the experience of sexual assault and its aftermath is subjective and that it is shaped by multiple factors. Paper 3 also demonstrated the complex needs experienced by some survivors (e.g., pre-existing mental health problems, prior interpersonal victimization). The combined findings of the PhD study are discussed using multiple frameworks, including intersectional theory. Taken together, the present research underscores the need for more person-centered (i.e., individually tailored) responses to survivors of sexual assault, internationally and in Denmark.

AB - It is well-known that survivors of sexual assault can have extensive post-assault service needs (e.g., legal, medical, and mental health-related). The existence of effective formal support systems for survivors is thus of vital societal importance. To meet survivors’ needs, specialized sexual assault services have been developed internationally and in Denmark. Research suggeststhat specialized sexual assault services have promising effects in relation to survivor recovery. Unfortunately, sexual assault services are not equally attainable for all survivors, and not allsurvivors experience them as helpful. The success of existing service models has thus been increasingly questioned. Therefore, the goal of the present PhD study was to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that account for disparities in service utilization and identify ways that service delivery can be improved for marginalized and underserved survivors. The present PhD study was conducted at the research group THRIVE, the Department of Psychology, University of Southern Denmark, in collaboration with Danish Sexual Assault Centers (SACs). SACs offer specialized psychological treatment and acute forensic medical examination to survivors 12+. The PhD study consists of three studies. The first paper is a systematic scoping review that sought to identify which survivors are most underserved by formal support systems in Western countries and why they are underserved. The findings of Paper 1 suggest that survivors with the following characteristics face additional or unique barriers to service utilization: ethnic minorities, disabilities, financial vulnerability, sexual and gender minorities, mental health conditions, problematic substance use, and older age. The second paper used qualitative interviews to investigate multidisciplinary SAC providers’ (N = 18) perspectives on vulnerability in the context of sexual assault. Participants consisted of forensic doctors, nurses, psychologists, social workers, and police investigators. Survivors perceived to be least likely to obtain and benefit from services by SAC providers were also those considered most vulnerable 8 regarding experiences surrounding victimization. Qualitative interviews were also used in the third and final paper, but this study sought to explore the issue of underserved survivors from the perspective of survivors (N = 5). Paper 3 shows that the experience of sexual assault and its aftermath is subjective and that it is shaped by multiple factors. Paper 3 also demonstrated the complex needs experienced by some survivors (e.g., pre-existing mental health problems, prior interpersonal victimization). The combined findings of the PhD study are discussed using multiple frameworks, including intersectional theory. Taken together, the present research underscores the need for more person-centered (i.e., individually tailored) responses to survivors of sexual assault, internationally and in Denmark.

KW - voldtægt

KW - seksuelle overgreb

KW - det formelle hjælpesystem

KW - sårbarhedsproblematikker

KW - sameksisterende problematikker

U2 - 10.21996/dnqf-zj42

DO - 10.21996/dnqf-zj42

M3 - Ph.D. thesis

PB - Syddansk Universitet. Det Sundhedsvidenskabelige Fakultet

ER -

A Person-Centered Approach to Understanding Service Needs Following Sexual Assault

Abstrakt

Emneord

Dokumenter og links

Fingeraftryk

Relaterede publikationer

What Characterizes Vulnerability? Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Service Provision for Survivors of Sexual Assault

Underserved survivors of sexual assault: a systematic scoping review

Relaterede Projekter

Ph.d.-projekt: En personcenteret tilgang til at forstå støttebehov efter seksuelle overgreb

Citationsformater