Download files
Abstract
Violent criminal victimisation (VCV) can have a substantial impact on victims. This impact is increasingly discussed through the concept of trauma and, more recently, well-being. Yet in criminal justice research the term well-being can be vague in usage or confounded with other outcomes. The focus is also primarily on negative changes and hence it provides limited guidance on pathways to victim well-being. Drawing on current insights in trauma research this thesis develops a holistic conception of post-traumatic well-being, which relates to VCV and recognises the potential for positive and negative changes. The thesis is based on a mixed methods study of a difficult to access population and documents the experience of 28 victims of violent crimes (specifically, homicide and/or sexual assault) in New South Wales, Australia. Participants were interviewed twice and completed self-report psychological measures three times across a 12-month period. The crimes occurred on average 11.5 years prior to the study and a trial/inquest had occurred, allowing participants to reflect on the trajectory of their well-being.
The thesis shows that post-traumatic well-being is a useful concept for capturing the unique, fluid and multifaceted nature of the effects of VCV. The study attends to the factors that hindered or helped well-being and maps these across the post-crime journey. The in-depth and longer-term focus of the study reaffirms the complex and ongoing nature of the impact of VCV and contact with the criminal justice system. The findings suggest a holistic approach is needed to reduce the impact of VCV, highlight the importance of considering victims in their individual context, and confirm the emerging literature regarding the existence of post-traumatic growth after VCV. The opportunity to examine the convergence or divergence of qualitative and quantitative findings demonstrates the potential richness of the mixed methods approach. Qualitative findings often add nuance and complexity to quantitative results. Several policy and practice recommendations are outlined, particularly the importance of a trauma-informed approach for fostering victim well-being. This thesis adds to the limited empirical documentation of the experience of VCV in Australian criminal justice research, provides context and direction to victim well-being research, and supports the utility of a trauma lens for understanding the unique nature of VCV.