Date of Award
Spring 4-29-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
DOI
https://doi.org/10.70013/s2n83jlv
Degree Name
D.S.W. Social work
Department
Social Work
First Advisor
Dr. Yasoda Sharma
Second Advisor
Dr. Kathleen Stanfa
Third Advisor
Dr. Heather Evans
Abstract
Domestic minor sex trafficking leaves survivors with long lasting physical and mental health needs. Due to its insidious nature, sex trafficking is often invisible. Consequently the needs of survivors, who have experienced complex trauma, are little understood. The outcome of complex trauma is trauma-related shame. Understanding the impact of shame specifically on trafficking survivors' identity formation, interpersonal relathionships, perception of self, and overall ability to heal are necessary to understand. It is documented in current researh that mental health resources for sruvivors are minimal, difficult to access, and inadequate in truly making an impact on survivors' capacity for healing. In this study, the purpose was to explore the impact of shame through the voices of the survivors. Individual interviews were completed in addition to a quantitative survey related to shame and trauma. The findings of this research revealed that shame was at the core of survivors' identity and was present before, during, and after trafficking. The findings also highlighted the importance of genuine relationships between social workers and survivors. The suvivors expressed the impact of community and belonging on their healing. Shame resilience can be fostered through compassion-focused therapy interventions. Frameworks such as shame resilience are addressed with implications to social work practice, research, and education.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Boehm, Alycha, "Intersection of Shame and Trauma in Survivors of Child Sex Trafficking" (2025). Social Work Doctoral Dissertations. 42.
https://research.library.kutztown.edu/socialworkdissertations/42
