Understanding Childhood Sexual Abuse and its Association with Psychological Traumatisation, Re-traumatisation, and Shame in Adult South Asian Women: A Scoping Review

The existing body of research concerning the occurrence, frequency, and experiences of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is limited. A significant portion of this research published in English is influenced by Western, Euro-centric viewpoints, negating the lived experiences of the people of colour. In collectivist cultures valuing familial harmony, loyalty, and reputation-loss aversion, CSA victims often hesitate to speak out. This challenge intensifies when coupled with tight cultures, where strict rules and hierarchies prevail. In these collectivist and tight cultures, silence pressure for familial honour and strict rules adherence compound the difficulty for victims to speak out about childhood sexual abuse. Despite our recognition of the intersectional identities (eg., gender and caste) that exist in diverse cultures and the intricate nature of these identities, there is a noticeable absence of a culturally encompassing approach when it comes to comprehending CSA. This has led to the initiation of this study, which aims to investigate how women of colour navigate and cope with the aftermath of sexual trauma in childhood.

Findings underscored cultural factors' influence on CSA incidence, help-seeking barriers, and treatment challenges. The pivotal role of shame (sharam) and honour (izzat) in disclosure and healing processes was highlighted. The study emphasised the need for culturally sensitive interventions while noting limited literature on re-traumatisation.
Incorporating a culturally informed perspective, this research aims to decolonise trauma therapy by contributing to the CSA discourse, shedding light on its intricate interaction with trauma, shame, and healing among South Asian women.