Experiences of interpersonal relationships in adult survivors of FGM
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Experiences of interpersonal relationships in adult survivors of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM): An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
IRAS ID
247058
Contact name
Jennifer Glover
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Oxford
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 31 days
Research summary
The study is a qualitative investigation into the interpersonal relationships of adult women who have survived an experience of female genital mutilation (FGM) in childhood. It has been well documented that FGM can result in serious medical, obstetric and psychological consequences which can be long-lasting and impact widely on the lives of those affected. It is estimated that 200 million women and girls worldwide are affected by FGM, and a large proportion of survivors have reported traumatic experiences. This can impact on their mental health and manifest in high rates of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress symptoms, as well as feelings of incompleteness, anger, and difficulty trusting others. FGM also significantly affects sexual functioning and satisfaction, and therefore impacts on marital satisfaction. The relational consequences of FGM are not yet well understood and have not been extensively studied, yet the event itself can be considered a relational trauma as it is usually carried out in families, sometimes by relatives. Relational traumas are likely to have relational consequences. This study will be the first qualitative investigation in the international literature to the researcher's knowledge focusing primarily on survivors' experiences of relationships in adulthood, for example with their parents, partners and children, and how these may have been affected by their FGM experience.
REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/1365
Date of REC Opinion
24 Sep 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion