Posttraumatic Growth (PTG) Following Sexual Violence Trauma Among Women in Taiwan

Background: Sexual violence is a significant issue in Taiwan, with approximately 1 in 24 individuals having experienced it and a substantial 20,440 reported cases in 2022. Despite extensive research examining the correlation between sexual violence trauma and adverse health/behavioral outcomes, there remains a dearth of studies exploring growth outcomes among sexual violence survivors, particularly in the Asian context. Although previous research in North America has suggested the presence of Posttraumatic Growth (PTG) following sexual trauma, its exploration outside this region is limited. This study seeks to bridge this gap by investigating PTG among female survivors of sexual violence following the May 2023 #MeToo movement in Taiwan.

Methods: Qualitative interviews were conducted with 31 women (aged 20-50) in Taiwan who had experienced sexual violence incidents at least one year before the interview. The interviews took place between December 2023 and March 2024, utilizing purposive and snowball sampling methods. Each interview lasted between 60 to 90 minutes and aimed to explore the participants' experiences of sexual violence and their associated negative and positive outcomes. Thematic analysis was employed, with the research team comprising both sexual violence survivors and non-survivors as coders. These coders coded, recoded, and compared themes that emerged from the interviews.

Results: The study found that the majority of participants experienced growth following their sexual violence trauma, identifying eight domains of such outcomes: 1) Improved trust and connection: Developed Informal, semi-professional, and professional support systems through disclosing experiences. 2) Improved emotional literacy: Gained the ability to identify, understand, and cope with emotions related to their trauma. 3) Increased agency and ultraistic engagement: Committed to actions and missions addressing sexual violence. 4) Deepened Spirituality: Experienced significant changes in their religions or belief systems, viewing trauma as a transformative journey. 5) Recognized personal strengths: Became aware of internal strengths, such as confidence, empathy, and openness. 6) Cultivated gratitude: Developed gratitude for what they already possessed. 7) Fostered autonomy: Established healthy mental, physical, and interpersonal boundaries. 8) Developed self-identity: Reconstructed their sense of self and values and developed unconditional self-acceptance.

Conclusions and Implications: This study significantly contributes to the literature by exploring PTG following sexual violence trauma in the context of the #MeToo movement in Taiwan in an Asian context, an area with limited research. The findings affirm the existence of growth outcomes among women who have experienced sexual violence. Compared to existing PTG literature in Western contexts, this study highlights unique growth domains such as emotional literacy, self-identity, autonomy, and altruistic actions, particularly among Taiwanese women survivors. The study suggests that addressing financial stability, promoting sex education, reconstructing cultural understanding, and establishing support networks and positive coping strategies are crucial for promoting growth among female survivors in Taiwan. Future research should focus on identifying protective factors and strategies to combat sexual violence trauma within the Asian cultural context.