“Plants brought back to life”: An exploration of female adolescent
survivors’ experiences of sexual abuse, healing and resilience

Dublin Core

Title

“Plants brought back to life”: An exploration of female adolescent
survivors’ experiences of sexual abuse, healing and resilience

Subject

child sexual abuse; female adolescents; healing; resilience

Description

Background: Sexual abuse is a significant issue for adolescent girls in the
Philippines. This study explores the experiences of survivors, focusing on
their journeys of healing and resilience.
Purpose: This study aimed to investigate effect of mindfulness-based Asmaul
Husna on the overall adaptive functioning of individuals with schizophrenia.
Methods: This Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis study aimed to
understand the lived experiences of Filipino adolescent girls who survived
sexual abuse through four key questions, namely: 1) How did each participant
perceive their experience? 2) What coping mechanisms did they employ to
deal with the trauma? 3) How did the abuse impact their self-perception and
purpose in life? 4) What symbols or meanings do they associate with their
experiences?
Results: The analysis identified six superordinate and sixteen subordinate
themes. These included: 1) sense of loss – participants described a deep
sense of loss due to the abuse; 2) healing as a process – healing was
perceived as a gradual and ongoing journey; 3) supportive environment
– supportive relationships played a crucial role in coping; 4) growing faith
in God – faith emerged as a significant source of strength; 5) reclaiming
the sense of self – regaining a sense of self-worth was a central aspect
of healing; and 6) altruism – the desire of helping others emerged as a
meaningful way to cope.
Conclusion: The participants’ experiences can be likened to a resilient
plant that, despite facing near-destruction, revives with renewed strength.
Family dynamics played a crucial role in the girls’ experiences of abuse.
A culture of silence and fear emerged as a significant theme in their
narratives. Additionally, the ambiguity and conflicting emotions surrounding
accountability for perpetrators within close families posed complex
challenges. This research provides valuable insights into the experiences
of sexually abused Filipino adolescent girls, informing nursing practice. The
findings enable nurses to offer culturally sensitive, trauma-informed care
and develop targeted support interventions. Incorporating these insights into
nursing education will enhance students’ competencies in trauma response,
cultural sensitivity, and therapeutic communication with abuse survivors,
leading to improved assessment protocols and care strategies.

Creator

Maria Lourdes T. Jarabe21* , Laili Rayuwalhati2

Source

http://jkp.fkep.unpad.ac.id/index.
php/jkp

Date

December 25, 2024

Contributor

PERI IRAWAN

Format

PDF

Language

ENGLISH

Type

TEXT

Files

Citation

Maria Lourdes T. Jarabe21* , Laili Rayuwalhati2, ““Plants brought back to life”: An exploration of female adolescent
survivors’ experiences of sexual abuse, healing and resilience,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed February 11, 2026, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/10727.