Long-term effects on the psychosocial adjustment of women who have experienced social victimization as young girls: A qualitative research study

The purpose of this study is to explore possible long-term effects of social victimization by considering the current lived experiences of women who have been victimized as children. The sample includes eleven heterosexual women currently studying in graduate school whose ages range from early twenties to early sixties, whose backgrounds range from middle- to lower-class, and who come from similar communities of faith. The women participated in three focus groups in which they were asked to discuss their stories of victimization and to comment on any residual impact in the succeeding years.; The study found that ten of the eleven women reported ongoing negative effects, while one endorsed a positive effect, saying that she is now more aware of inclusion factors as a result of her victimization experiences. Ongoing effects reported by the ten included a sense of ambivalence regarding the subject of social victimization, internal processes which affect how they see themselves, psychosocial processes which affect how they present themselves to others, relational effects while in relationship with other women, and coping mechanisms they employ to achieve a level of comfortability in their relationships.; This qualitative study relied on the participants' subject experience and naturalistic observation to propose a new theoretical construct using a six-step coding process. The results provide an accurate representation of the participants' experiences. They do not necessarily reflect an understanding of women from different backgrounds, sexual orientation, or belief structure, and will not generalize to the population as a whole until validating studies are done.; The study presents symptomotology consistent with the reported effects for the purpose of giving therapists and educators a starting place to begin to identify social victimization. Suggestions are also presented to assist in treatment or therapy.