The public defence will be held as a video conference over Zoom.
The defence will follow regular procedure as far as possible, hence it will be open to the public and the audience can ask ex auditorio questions when invited to do so.
Click here to participate in the public defence
Due to copyright reasons, an electronic copy of the thesis must be ordered from the faculty. In order for the faculty to have time to process the order, it must be received by the faculty no later than 2 days prior to the public defence. Orders received later than 2 days before the defence will not be processed. Inquiries regarding the thesis after the public defence must be addressed to the candidate.
Digital Trial Lecture – time and place
Adjudication committee
- First opponent: Docent Filip Arnberg, Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden
- Second opponent: Professor May Aasebø Hauken, University of Bergen
- Third member and chair of the evaluation committee: Associate Professor Edel Jannecke Svendsen, University of Oslo
Chair of the Defence
Professor Emeritus Edvard Hauff, University of Oslo
Principal Supervisor
Professor Gerry Larsson, Swedish Defence University
Summary
The impact of stress on health depends on the frequency or level of stress during a given period and the presence of repeated daily hassles of psychological importance. Women who have experienced sexual abuse may experience an array of stressful demands and conditions that are perceived as irritating, frustrating, or stressful events and that force them to act upon these conditions.
The aims of the thesis were to gain a deeper understanding of how adult women experience and cope with daily hassles after experiencing sexual abuse. Also, to explore the association of daily hassles, daily uplifts, coping strategies on stress-related symptoms, indication of posttraumatic stress disorder and emotional stability.
An exploratory sequential mixed-method design was used in the thesis. In-depth interviews with 10 women were conducted. A questionnaire with both validated and newly constructed target-group-specific items was developed and completed by women (n = 57) at nine support centers for survivors of incest and sexual abuse in Norway.
A theoretical model (avoiding and escaping, accepting and disclosing, reconciling and repossessing) illustrate turning points and how the survivors resolved their daily stress over time.
Disclosure and social support contributed to fewer daily hassles, more daily uplifts, and more adaptive coping strategies.
Stress-related symptoms and symptoms indicating PTSD were strongly related to perceived daily hassles, fewer daily uplifts, and the use of more maladaptive coping strategies.
The results revealed the importance of healthcare professionals gaining knowledge of what daily hassles comprise, being able to uncover maladaptive coping strategies, and focusing on changing stress appraisals and stress-response behavior.
Additional information
Contact the research support staff.