Papers by Lisa Rudolfsson
Violence Against Women, May 29, 2023
Interactions with police are vitally important to victims’ ability to process their trauma. This ... more Interactions with police are vitally important to victims’ ability to process their trauma. This study focused on the experiences of victims who reported a rape to police in Sweden. Thirteen women participated in interviews; the material was analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Findings include lack of information and the role of luck in finding an understanding officer; some found comfort, and some felt violated once again. Long processing times bound participants to their trauma. Findings highlight the need for improved knowledge of trauma among police, victims’ needs for information and rights to support, and structural barriers that need to be addressed.
Professionals who work with traumatized individuals can develop secondary traumatization (ST). Li... more Professionals who work with traumatized individuals can develop secondary traumatization (ST). Little research has focused on ST among police officers and medical personnel who meet with raped women. Based on focus groups with these professionals (N = 28), a deductive thematic analysis was conducted with a focus on ST. Participants described listening to stories with traumatic content, and they showed signs of cognitive and emotional changes. They also described a lack of support, forcing them to find both constructive and destructive ways of coping on their own. Negative effects may lead professionals to continue working without understanding how they are affected. This can hinder professionals from taking care of themselves as well as from offering proper treatment to the victims they meet.
Pastoral care can be described as a cleric’s presence with people in their time of need, to promo... more Pastoral care can be described as a cleric’s presence with people in their time of need, to promote their well-being and strengthen them in their faith. One dimension of working through an overwhelming trauma, such as sexual abuse, is to find a way to make sense of what has happened and possibly to find some kind of meaning in what has happened. Today, the clergy is identified as an important mental health resource and caring for people suffering from psychological trauma forms an important part of pastoral care. The aim of this thesis was partly to study clerics’ preparedness to, and experiences of, pastoral care for victims of sexual abuse, partly to study what needs victims of sexual abuse bring to pastoral care and their experiences of seeking this help. The aim was also to investigate if pastoral care for victims of sexual abuse could be affected by different aspects of gender, and how the clerical vow of silence was perceived and handled. In Study I the role of gender in the c...
Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology
Interactions with police officers are of great importance as to how the reporting raped woman con... more Interactions with police officers are of great importance as to how the reporting raped woman continues to process what has happened. The focus of this study was on police officers’ experiences regarding contact with women who report rape. Sixteen officers participated in focus groups, and the data were subjected to inductive thematic analysis. Participants stressed their wish to be supportive and empathic, but also their lack of support and prerequisites, e.g., lack of amenities in interrogation rooms. They felt frustrated and described their work as “trying” rather than succeeding. If unaddressed, such shortcomings risk negatively affecting both police officers and victims.
Sexual Crime, Religion and Spirituality, 2019
Every year thousands of people are subjected to sexual abuse and a substantial part of that abuse... more Every year thousands of people are subjected to sexual abuse and a substantial part of that abuse occurs within the family. Many victims of sexual abuse find it hard to disclose being a victim, especially if someone close, that the victim loves and trusts, is the perpetrator of the abuse. For the victim who has a religious faith, besides the psychological consequences suffered, the victim’s faith may also become traumatized. This chapter will outline the psychological consequences of being sexually abused as well as the potential consequences on the victims’ faith, highlighting the search for meaning and the effect of sexual abuse on an individual’s relation to God. Thereafter, commonalities and diversities in religious coping across religions will be outlined. Specific challenges will be discussed, highlighting reactions from faith communities, the role of family structure, sexual moral, shame, and lack of knowledge. Lastly, conclusions and practical implications will be outlined.
World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, International Journal of Law and Political Sciences, Jul 23, 2020
Feminism & Psychology, 2021
The focus of this study was on female emergency medical personnel's experiences of treating w... more The focus of this study was on female emergency medical personnel's experiences of treating women who have been raped and on their own experiences of being women themselves working in this situation. We interviewed 12 female medical personnel in four focus groups of two to five participants each. The material was analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Participants’ experiences were structured under two main themes: Prerequisites for care and Effects on oneself. As women, the participants emphasized their understanding of other women and stressed the importance of offering flexible care and taking time with each patient. They described how their work affected them personally, making them increasingly aware of men's violence against women and their need for support from their colleagues. They also discussed structural barriers to both patient care and self-care. If unaddressed, such shortcomings risk negatively affecting raped women seeking medical care and may also be de...
Traumatology, 2021
In prior studies, women who have been raped have reported feelings of guilt, self-blame, and lone... more In prior studies, women who have been raped have reported feelings of guilt, self-blame, and loneliness, as well as having sexual difficulties during sexual activity, actualizing feelings of shame or flashbacks of the abuse (e.g. Wilson & Miller, 2016). Furthermore, symptoms of PTSD have been found to be prevalent in victims (e.g. Wilson & Scarpa, 2017). According to the fifth edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), these symptoms include: 1) intrusion (i.e. distressing recollections, dreams and feelings as if the event is recurring), 2) avoidance (i.e. of thoughts, feelings, activities, places or people that remind them of the trauma), 3) negative alterations in cognitions and mood (i.e. negative assumptions of the world, self-blame etc.) and 4) hyper-arousal (i.e. sleep difficulties, irritability and difficulties concentrating) (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Although rape and sexual offenses are traumatic crimes that cause psychological distress, a majority of all sexual offenses do not come to the attention of public authorities. According to a report from the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Brå), the unknown number of sexual offences in Sweden, as in many other countries, is difficult to estimate (2019a). In the Swedish Crime Survey (SCS), six percent of the population reported having been subjected to one or more cases of sexual abuse, which corresponds to approximately 482,000 individuals. Out of these reports, only 22,500 sexual offences were officially reported to the Police, where 7,960 cases were classified as rape. These reports almost solely consisted of crimes against women (2019a). Previous research has shown different factors that can affect the victim's propensity to report (Maddox, Lee & Barker, 2011). It has been well established that a close relationship with the perpetrator minimizes the victim's tendency to report sexual abuse (e.g. Felson, Messner, Hoskin & Deane, 2002). Furthermore, the relationship to the perpetrator also affects whether or not the victim identifies the sexual abuse as a rape (e.g. LeMaire, Oswald & Russel, 2016). Other important factors that affect victim's propensity to make a report include feelings of shame and guilt, fear of not being believed, not feeling like the crime can be proven, fear of revenge, threats to disclose, and an unwillingness to let others know due to the stigmatizing effect of having been raped (e.g. Sarkar & Sarkar, 2005). In cases where women have reported a rape, these victims report having received both positive (i.e. comfort, emotional support, empathy) and negative (i.e. blame, doubt, withdrawal) reactions from professionals (Ahrens, Cabral, & Abeling, 2009). Positive reactions to a disclosure has been associated with improved psychological health among victims (Campbell, 2005). However, negative reactions, such as victim-blaming and skeptical reactions from professionals, has been shown to have a harmful effect on the victim's psychological health, causing increased symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress (Ahrens, Stansell, & Jennings, 2010). These negative reactions to a victim's disclosure has also lead to victim's reluctance to seek help again (Campbell, 2005). Hence, meeting with women who have been raped puts high demands on the professional to show emotional support and empathy. Thus, it remains important to investigate why some professionals instead display negative reactions toward rape victims, and if the ability to show support and empathy might be hindered by secondary traumatization. First responders Previous research has mainly focused on the prolonged exposure to traumatic material among professionals, such as therapists or social workers, who have had long-term contact with traumatized individuals (e.g. Zeidner, Hadar, Matthews & Roberts, 2013). However, fewer studies have focused on the impact on first responders, who are frequently and routinely
Community Mental Health Journal, 2020
Despite extensive needs, interventions for parents with psychosis are rarely offered, poorly desc... more Despite extensive needs, interventions for parents with psychosis are rarely offered, poorly described, and vary between offering instrumental and emotional support. To improve the design of interventions offered to families with parental psychosis, more knowledge is needed. The aim of this study was to gain knowledge about mental health professionals’ perceptions of parenting by patients with psychosis. Eleven mental health professionals educated in family interventions were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide and the material underwent inductive thematic analysis. Results showed that the professionals described the patients parenting as characterized by difficulties in providing security and predictability, taking part in and organizing family life, and to focus on the child’s needs. The difficulties were described as related to specific symptoms such as voice hearing, cognitive impairments, anxiety, and paranoia. As a vast amount of research stresses the psychosoc...
Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 2019
People often seek counsel from clergy before they seek help from mental health professionals. The... more People often seek counsel from clergy before they seek help from mental health professionals. There is a need for clergy to have a way to make referrals to clinicians, and for clinicians to have a familiarity with the multiple roles of clergy and religion. Collaboration between clinicians and religious congregations provides a way to initiate and sustain continuities of mental health care. As a pilot study for a project on applying the Clergy Outreach and Professional Engagement (COPE) model in Sweden, a focus group with licenced psychologists and pastoral care givers was conducted. Transcript was analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Findings included a need for knowledge and a need for collaboration. Barriers for collaboration concerned ministers' vow of silence and a lack of resources within primary care and psychiatry. There is a need to further discussion regarding confidentiality within the Church, and to address structural barriers within mental health care.
Religions, 2018
The focus of this research was on ways in which Christian congregations can address the concept o... more The focus of this research was on ways in which Christian congregations can address the concept of forgiveness when caring for victims of sexual abuse, and to make suggestions for a restitution mass as a possible way for congregations to work with these victims. Interviews with seven women and one man, who were victims of sexual abuse, were analyzed according to inductive thematic analysis. Our focus was on abuse that had occurred outside Church, i.e., not perpetrated by representatives for the Church. The informants described how attending services in Church could trigger their memories of sexual abuse, and they struggled to understand the concept of forgiveness; who they were to forgive and what made their forgiveness good enough. They expressed a need for the Church to offer them a safe space, rituals where their experiences would be acknowledged, and to meet with other victims of sexual abuse. We argue that representatives for the Church need to acquire knowledge about sexual ab...
International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 2017
After Sweden passed new health care legislation in 2010, Beardslee's preventive family interventi... more After Sweden passed new health care legislation in 2010, Beardslee's preventive family intervention (FI) was implemented to meet children's rights to information and support. No studies have yet evaluated perceived effectiveness of FI in families with parental psychosis or its reception by families or professionals. This study focused on professionals' experiences of offering FI to parents with psychosis, their partners, and their children. We conducted 11 semi-structured interviews with FI-educated professionals at open care psychosis service units. Both authors applied thematic analysis to the interview data. The main reported benefit of FI was more open communication in the family; discussing the parent's illness was thought to be helpful for all family members. Psychoeducation was described as particularly useful because family members generally seemed to lack sufficient information about psychosis. The FI manual also made professionals more confident about asking about patients' parenting capacity and their children's wellbeing. Despite positive descriptions, participants had conducted few FI interventions because of heavy workloads, organizational problems, and patients' resistance to talking about their children. These barriers need to be addressed because children of parents with psychosis are a vulnerable group in great need of information and support.
Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling: Advancing theory and professional practice through scholarly and reflective publications, 2013
In this focus group study with clerics from the Church of Sweden, the Catholic Church, and the Fr... more In this focus group study with clerics from the Church of Sweden, the Catholic Church, and the Free Church Movement, experiences of pastoral care for victims of sexual abuse were explored. The material was analyzed using thematic analysis. The participants expressed a wish to offer the best care possible. However, insecurity, a perceived lack of psychological competences, and restrictions imposed by the vow of silence provoked self-protective strategies that may affect both clerics and confidants.
Pastoral Psychology, 2015
Avhandling för avläggande av filosofie doktorsexamen i psykologi, som med vederbörligt tillstånd ... more Avhandling för avläggande av filosofie doktorsexamen i psykologi, som med vederbörligt tillstånd av samhällsvetenskapliga fakulteten vid Göteborgs universitet kommer att offentligen försvaras fredagen den 6 februari 2015
Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 2014
Experiences of sexual abuse may lead to religious struggles and affect a person's faith. This stu... more Experiences of sexual abuse may lead to religious struggles and affect a person's faith. This study focused on how victims of sexual abuse describe their relationships with God and with other parishioners. Our interest was in sexual abuse that had occurred outside the religious congregation, not abuse perpetrated by a minister or any other representative of the church. Interviews conducted with seven women and one man were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. The informants described a wavering relationship with God and with the congregation. They felt that God had betrayed and abandoned them, and they struggled with different aspects of anger. These emotions made the informants feel different from, and sometimes excluded from, the Christian community. Along with these feelings, however, the informants expressed a strong longing for God and a need to feel protected by the congregation. All informants described the effect the abuse had on their faith as essential to their trauma, and as an issue they needed to work through to learn how to live with their experiences.
Introduction During times of crises and personal distress, Christian people turn to their ministe... more Introduction During times of crises and personal distress, Christian people turn to their ministers and congregations for support, comfort, and help in understanding what has happened to them. Thus, Christian congregations may function as an important actor in caring for victims of sexual abuse. The aim of this study was partly to investigate the readiness within the Church of Sweden to care for victims of sexual abuse, partly to identify needs for future work with these questions. Method Questionnaire data was collected from ministers working in the Church of Sweden. Thereafter, some aspects were studied further using focus group interviews with ministers. Results A vast majority of the respondents had met victims of sexual abuse. They reported an interest of learning more about how to disclose sexual abuse and how to care for the victims. There was a perceived lack of forums for discussing sexual abuse and lack of central directives and guidance. The vow of silence was perceived as restraining ministers from reporting to local authorities when realizing that a minor is being sexually abused. Conclusion Due to the serious consequences of sexual abuse, the ministers’ authoritative position, the professional secrecy, and the lack of central directives these questions need to be further studied. Cooperation between professions must be encouraged and an accepting attitude towards engaging in discussions about sexual abuse in the Church of Sweden needs to be further promoted.
All Christian believers listen to the words of God through a personal filter. This is also true f... more All Christian believers listen to the words of God through a personal filter. This is also true for victims of sexual abuse, who relate to God and the congregation out of the experience of having been sexually abused. The aim was to gain a deeper understanding of how individuals that had been sexually abused described their relation to God, as well as their relation to other members of the congregation. The respondents were seven women and one man. The interviews were analyzed in accordance with thematic inductive analysis. Some aspects were understood according to attachment theory. The respondents struggled with feelings of no longer belonging to the Christian community. They described hymns and rituals in Church as evoking memories of the abuse. They felt abandoned and betrayed by God who did not hear their prayers and stopped the abuse. Feelings of anger towards God as well as a longing for an intimate relationship with Him were described. There was a need to gain a new understa...
Clerics are more and more becoming identified as an important health and mental health resource, ... more Clerics are more and more becoming identified as an important health and mental health resource, and counseling now forms an important part of the ministerial role. At the same time, the effects of sexual abuse are more and more highlighted, including awareness of the consequences on faith. The aim of this presentation is to describe pastoral care for victims of sexual abuse; both from a care giver and a confidant perspective. Two different studies were conducted; one focusgroup study with clerics (N=15) and one interview study with individuals that had been sexually abused and sought pastoral care (N=8). Both focusgroups and interviews were analyzed in accordance with thematic inductive analysis. In the focusgroups, clerics talked about the difficulties when listening to stories of sexual abuse. The feelings provoked when caring for individuals that were/had been sexually abused, partly lead to a need to protect oneself. The self-protective strategies were described as a need to di...
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Papers by Lisa Rudolfsson