Title |
Does the Stockholm Syndrome affect female sex workers? The case for a “Sonagachi Syndrome”
|
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Published in |
BMC Public Health, February 2018
|
DOI | 10.1186/s12914-018-0148-4 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Abraar Karan, Nathan Hansen |
Abstract |
Female sex workers are subjected to intense physical, sexual, and mental abuses that are well documented in the medical and public health literature. However, less well-studied are the mental coping mechanisms that are employed by women in this population to survive. The Stockholm Syndrome has been discussed in the news media as a potential phenomenon in this vulnerable population, but has not been formally studied. From a previous retrospective qualitative analysis reviewing interviews with women in sex work throughout India, we found that the four main criteria for Stockholm Syndrome (perceived threat to survival; showing of kindness from a captor; isolation from other perspectives; perceived inability to escape) are present in narrative accounts from this population. Thus, we propose that Stockholm Syndrome should be considered as a contributing phenomenon with regard to the psychological challenges faced by female sex workers, and can likely help guide interventions accordingly. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
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United States | 15 | 48% |
Australia | 1 | 3% |
United Kingdom | 1 | 3% |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1 | 3% |
Unknown | 13 | 42% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
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Members of the public | 27 | 87% |
Scientists | 2 | 6% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 2 | 6% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Unknown | 46 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Master | 8 | 17% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 7 | 15% |
Student > Bachelor | 5 | 11% |
Researcher | 5 | 11% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 3 | 7% |
Other | 2 | 4% |
Unknown | 16 | 35% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Medicine and Dentistry | 10 | 22% |
Social Sciences | 6 | 13% |
Psychology | 5 | 11% |
Environmental Science | 2 | 4% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 2 | 4% |
Other | 7 | 15% |
Unknown | 14 | 30% |