Intervention Program Needs for Older Adults Living with HIV Who Are Childhood Sexual Abuse Survivors

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Objectives: Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) prevalence estimates range from 8-11% among older adults and may range from 16 to 22% among older adults living with HIV (OALH). CSA experiences can still impact the quality of life of older adults. To the best of our knowledge, however, there are no CSA-focused interventions tailored for OALH. Using a qualitative approach, this study characterized the desired components of a trauma-focused intervention for OALH who are CSA survivors. Methods: Twenty-four (24) adults aged 50 years of age or older who were living with HIV and had experienced CSA were recruited from a large HIV immunology center in South Carolina. Participants completed in-depth, qualitative, semi-structured interviews. We iteratively examined verbatim transcripts using thematic analysis. Results: Three main themes emerged: program format and modality, program content, and program coordinator. Most participants expressed a desire for a trauma-focused intervention program in which the CSA experience was addressed and they could talk to someone either individually, as a group, and/or both. Conclusion: A trauma-focused intervention addressing CSA may be helpful for OALH who are CSA survivors. Future research should focus on designing and implementing age-appropriate interventions addressing the CSA experience, increasing resilience, and developing adaptive coping skills.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2021.1998358

Rights

© 2025 Informa UK Limited

APA Citation

Brown, M. J., Nkwonta, C. A., Kaur, A., James, T., Haider, M. R., Weissman, S. B., Hansen, N. B., Heckman, T. G., & Li, X. (2021). Intervention program needs for older adults living with HIV who are childhood sexual abuse survivors. Aging & Mental Health, 26(11), 1–7.https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2021.1998358

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