A Qualitative Study on Leaders Overcoming Childhood Sexual Trauma
A Qualitative Study on Leaders Overcoming Childhood Sexual Trauma
Valerie McLaughlin | 2024
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of individuals who have triumphed over childhood sexual trauma (CST) to become leaders. Many individuals have endured CST experiences leading some to silently battle feelings of sadness and make decisions they regret. Many CST survivors experience feelings of uncertainty, fear, or questioning of one’s existence. However, some individuals manage to rise above their CST and emerge as leaders who support others and are recognized for their guidance. They reach a place of stability, clarity, satisfaction, and a sense of purpose and peace. Ultimately, these survivors emerge as resilient leaders. This study involved 30-minute interviews with 11 female participants, aged 37 to 74, of African American and Caucasian descent with varying educational backgrounds. Open-ended questions were used to gather insights and facilitate in-depth discussions to address three research questions, which were further explored through eight interview questions. The results of this study supported the research purpose and were presented under the following headings: Table of Demographics, Transcripts with Codes, a table of the List of Codes, Number of Coding References Graph, Matrix Coding Query Graph, Matrix Coding Query – Results Preview Diagram, Word Clouds Diagrams, Clusters of Codes, Research Questions, Overall Impact, and Word Similarity Cluster diagram. Key findings from this study revealed that the participants exhibited various Adverse Adult Outcomes (AAOs), with the most prominent being Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) throughout their healing journeys. However, the participants also demonstrated positive outcomes on their path to leadership, including compassion and empathy, self-awareness, transparency, moral/ethical values, balanced processing, and resilience. All participants exhibited resilience. The study has implications for survivors of CST, highlighting their ability to triumph over their pain and use their experiences as a catalyst for personal growth and transformation. Their resilience was the fundamental catalyst driving their survival and a significant source of strength for them as influential leaders.