Substance abuse and childhood maltreatment. Conceptualizing the recovery process

Research exploring the dual, yet related, issues of adulthood substance abuse and childhood maltreatment remains limited to the effects of such experiences on the individual. To date, clinical literature has failed to explore the ways in which individuals, particularly women, cope with and recover from these experiences. The current study applied a qualitative methodology to a sample of six women. Respondents had completed a minimum of 3 years of chemical-free living and self-identified as survivors of prolonged childhood sexual abuse. Women participated in a semi-structured interview to detail their recovery process. Results show support for a multifactorial process of recovery; specifically, strategies aimed at affect regulation, development of a new self-concept, and the forging of more adaptive attachment styles. The implications of these results are discussed in the context of improving clinical intervention strategies and encouraging additional research endeavors to understand this complex process.