Narrations of trust, coping, and body in sex trafficking survivors. Qualitative analysis from a psychosocial perspective

Sex trafficking is a severe and specific form of human trafficking, defined as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring, or receipt of people through force, fraud, or deception, with the objective of exploiting them for profit through commercial sexual activities. This illegal activity, which predominantly targets vulnerable women and girls, is a subset of the broader global phenomenon of human trafficking, involving extreme violations of human rights and dignity. This dissertation aims to explore sex trafficking from a psychosocial perspective, focusing on the profound and lasting impacts it has on survivors. Specifically, this qualitative study’s primary objective is to explore how survivors narrate key aspects of their experiences, particularly in relation to trust, coping mechanisms, and the relationship with their bodies. By conducting episodic narrative interviews with 8 women who have survived sex trafficking, the research prioritises their first-hand stories to gain a deeper understanding of these key aspects of their experiences. Through their narratives, the study aims to uncover insights that enhance our comprehension of the psychological and emotional impacts of sex trafficking while also contributing valuable perspectives to the existing literature on the subject.