German Clinical Trials Register

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Brief summary in lay language

This study conducted by the Faculty for Psychology of the University of Vienna attends to the victims of violence and sexual abuse in the field of the Catholic Church, which have contacted the Independent Victim Protection Advocacy (Unabhängige Opferschutzanwaltschaft, UOA) resp. the Independent Victim Protection Commission (Unabhängige Opferschutzkommission, UOK). The focus of this research project are the psychotraumatic consequences the victims of violence and sexual abuse suffer. The main research question is the correlation of suffered traumatization and the psychological consequences investigated through the documents of the victims. Background: In the past years several reports about abuse and violence of the Catholic Church in the USA, Ireland, Germany and Austria have shaken the public. In a comprehensive study conducted by the John Jay Colleges (2004, 2006) the sexual abuse of 11000 US children and adolescents by 4400 US priests is documented. For the reconditioning of victims of catholic priests in Austria the UOA and the UOK were established. Both organizations are dedicated to the victims and their needs, their goal is the protection of the victims. This orientation is unique. Comparable international commissions also integrate perpetrator investigations. The UOK consists of prominent people from the fields of law, psychology, medicine, pedagogics and social work. The UOK – an initiative against abuse and violence – is a civil society organization that acts free and autonomously and is available for all victims of abuse and violence in the church and society in Austria. Method: Based on the psychotraumatic model (Maercker, 2009) the data available to the UOK and UOA of the victims (reports, documentation of the traumatization, claims by the victims) are analysed. Victims of violence and sexual abuse that were surveyed by the UOA/UOK and agreed to participate in the study will be questioned using psychodiagnostical tests/questionnaires concerning health promoting factors and resources in terms of the psychotraumatological model. For the first time the effects of social recognition as well as of disclosure are researched in a group of victims in Austria. Due to a high percentage of males in this victim group gender specific model checks allow for new findings in the psychological process after sexual traumatization of men and women. The expected results are suitable to internationally improve standards in victim research and psychotraumatology, especially concerning the development of specific guidelines for similar groups of victims seeking help from comparable commissions.

Brief summary in scientific language

This research project focuses on victims of violence and sexual abuse in the field of the Catholic Church, that have turned to the Independent Victim Protection Advocacy (Unabhängige Opferschutzanwaltschaft, UOA) resp. the Independent Victim Protection Commission (Unabhängige Opferschutzkommission, UOK). The main research question is concerned with the correlation of the traumatization and the psychological consequences documented. This project has the unique chance to access the data of a group of victims of sexual abuse and violence, which receive help and recognition as a victim in an especially created institution. Based on the psychotraumatic model (Maercker, 2009) the data collected by the UOA and UOK will be analysed. Victims of violence and sexual abuse that were surveyed by the UOA/UOK and agreed to participate in the study will be questioned using psychodiagnostical tests/questionnaires concerning health promoting factors and resources in terms of the psychotraumatological model. For Austria, this kind of recognition as a victim is new. The effects of social social recognition as well as of disclosure are researched in a group of victims in Austria. Due to a high percentage of males in our victim group gender specific model checks allow for new findings in the psychological process after sexual traumatization of men and women. The expected results are suitable to internationally improve standards in victim research and psychotraumatology, especially concerning the development of specific guidelines for similar groups of victims seeking help from comparable commissions.