Exploring the Effects of Early Life Sexual Abuse in Later Life among Catholic Nuns

Abstract

This paper explores the variety of associated responses in later life to early life sexual abuse reported by aging Roman Catholic nuns (heretofore referred to as women religious). Specific attention is given to current effects and the strengths and resources these participants identify when integrating their personal histories of sexual abuse. The influences of their personal spirituality and institutional religious life are explicitly explored as factors in addressing the negative effects upon them in later life, which research participants associated with their sexual abuse.

Research on sexual abuse and its effects is extensive, due to a growing awareness and concern about the prevalence of sexual abuse against children and sexual violence against women (Koss et al., 1994). However, investigating sexual abuse rates and its effects among aging populations and specifically Roman Catholic women religious is severely limited. In response to this limitation, Saint Louis University’s School of Medicine conducted a study to advance knowledge about “the consequences of sexual trauma among Catholic nuns in the United States and to compare the child sexual abuse experiences of Sisters with these figures for lay women” (Chibnall, Wolf, Duckro, 1998, p. 4). Twelve participants were recruited from this original study who were sexually abused before the age of 18 and are 65+ years of age.