Thesis (PhD - Social Work) - Massey University, 2005. This thesis is based on a qualitative research inquiry that sought to develop an understanding of how 44 women (22 couples) in committed lesbian partnerships managed the long-term impacts of child sexual abuse, both on themselves and on their relationships. Face-to-face interviews were conducted and the data was transcribed and analysed through a process of content and thematic analysis. The findings have implications for social work practice with child and adult female survivors. They emphasise the long-term impacts of sexual abuse, the important contributions made by partners and counsellors in supporting women sexually abused as children and the levels of inter-sibling sexual abuse perpetrated by brothers (27% of the sample fell into the male sibling category of intra-familial abuse by perpetrators). The research findings also contain information from the women themselves on what facilitated their ability to cope with the effects of child sexual abuse from the varying perspectives of survivor, partner and couple. The author posits that this will be essential information for counsellors and social workers wishing to employ strengths and evidence-based approaches in their work with this client group and others, particularly heterosexual women and heterosexual couples.--AUTHOR'S ABSTRACT

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