Deafening Echoes: Lived Experiences of Adult Survivors of Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children

Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) is a global phenomenon of technology-facilitated sexual violence that has become prevalent in the Philippines. This exploratory qualitative study aimed to establish an in-depth understanding of the enduring effect of OSAEC victimization and ut...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Adesty Dulawan, Lucila Bance
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Indonesian Social Work Consortium 2024-12-01
Series:ASEAN Social Work Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.aseansocialwork.com/index.php/asw/article/view/94
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1841533383075692544
author Adesty Dulawan
Lucila Bance
author_facet Adesty Dulawan
Lucila Bance
author_sort Adesty Dulawan
collection DOAJ
description Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) is a global phenomenon of technology-facilitated sexual violence that has become prevalent in the Philippines. This exploratory qualitative study aimed to establish an in-depth understanding of the enduring effect of OSAEC victimization and utilize the phenomenological perspectives to identify key components of a trauma intervention for the population. Specifically, in-depth interviews were held with 5 adult survivors who were initially screened for trauma and 5 psychologists who are providing therapy to survivors of sexual violence. The themes showed that adult survivors of OSAEC face instability across various aspects of their life, including financial constraints, complex family relationships, huge family responsibilities, and health issues. Furthermore, they manifest persistent trauma symptoms such as hounding fears, intrusive memories, avoidance behaviors, negative affect and cognitions. Feelings of shame and stigma related to their past experiences likewise contribute to social isolation and emotional distress. Despite these challenges, the survivors demonstrate resilience through supportive relationships and faith-based coping. Facilitating the recovery of the survivors necessitate an integrative and survivor-focused therapeutic intervention that addresses the digital aspects of the abuse; builds skills in coping and emotional regulation; and fosters resilience. At the family and community level, empowerment is needed through advocacy and education to enable them to provide support and healthy environment for survivors to thrive. The recovery programs must likewise be anchored on responsive institutional systems around the survivors.
format Article
id doaj-art-f2e4dd6655fe4f8b87bf7cdecaf9da39
institution Kabale University
issn 2089-1075
2963-2404
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Indonesian Social Work Consortium
record_format Article
series ASEAN Social Work Journal
spelling doaj-art-f2e4dd6655fe4f8b87bf7cdecaf9da392025-01-16T03:37:54ZengIndonesian Social Work ConsortiumASEAN Social Work Journal2089-10752963-24042024-12-0112210.58671/aswj.v12i2.9494Deafening Echoes: Lived Experiences of Adult Survivors of Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of ChildrenAdesty Dulawan0Lucila Bance1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0626-8839The Graduate School, University of Santo Tomas, Espana, Manila, Philippines; World Hope International, Cebu, PhilippinesResearch Center for Educational and Social Issues, University of Santo Tomas, España, Manila, PhilippinesOnline Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) is a global phenomenon of technology-facilitated sexual violence that has become prevalent in the Philippines. This exploratory qualitative study aimed to establish an in-depth understanding of the enduring effect of OSAEC victimization and utilize the phenomenological perspectives to identify key components of a trauma intervention for the population. Specifically, in-depth interviews were held with 5 adult survivors who were initially screened for trauma and 5 psychologists who are providing therapy to survivors of sexual violence. The themes showed that adult survivors of OSAEC face instability across various aspects of their life, including financial constraints, complex family relationships, huge family responsibilities, and health issues. Furthermore, they manifest persistent trauma symptoms such as hounding fears, intrusive memories, avoidance behaviors, negative affect and cognitions. Feelings of shame and stigma related to their past experiences likewise contribute to social isolation and emotional distress. Despite these challenges, the survivors demonstrate resilience through supportive relationships and faith-based coping. Facilitating the recovery of the survivors necessitate an integrative and survivor-focused therapeutic intervention that addresses the digital aspects of the abuse; builds skills in coping and emotional regulation; and fosters resilience. At the family and community level, empowerment is needed through advocacy and education to enable them to provide support and healthy environment for survivors to thrive. The recovery programs must likewise be anchored on responsive institutional systems around the survivors.https://www.aseansocialwork.com/index.php/asw/article/view/94technology-facilitated sexual violencechild sexual abuseonline sexual abuse and exploitation of childrentrauma
spellingShingle Adesty Dulawan
Lucila Bance
Deafening Echoes: Lived Experiences of Adult Survivors of Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children
ASEAN Social Work Journal
technology-facilitated sexual violence
child sexual abuse
online sexual abuse and exploitation of children
trauma
title Deafening Echoes: Lived Experiences of Adult Survivors of Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children
title_full Deafening Echoes: Lived Experiences of Adult Survivors of Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children
title_fullStr Deafening Echoes: Lived Experiences of Adult Survivors of Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children
title_full_unstemmed Deafening Echoes: Lived Experiences of Adult Survivors of Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children
title_short Deafening Echoes: Lived Experiences of Adult Survivors of Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children
title_sort deafening echoes lived experiences of adult survivors of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children
topic technology-facilitated sexual violence
child sexual abuse
online sexual abuse and exploitation of children
trauma
url https://www.aseansocialwork.com/index.php/asw/article/view/94
work_keys_str_mv AT adestydulawan deafeningechoeslivedexperiencesofadultsurvivorsofonlinesexualabuseandexploitationofchildren
AT lucilabance deafeningechoeslivedexperiencesofadultsurvivorsofonlinesexualabuseandexploitationofchildren