Child Sexual Abuse and Subsequent Relational and Personal Functioning: The Role of Parental Support

• NCJ Number: 246701
• Journal: Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 38 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2014 Pages: 217-325
• Author(s): Natacha Godbout; John Briere; Stephane Sabourin; Yvan Lussier
• Date Published: February 2014
• Length: 9 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study of 348 adults engaged in stable romantic relationshipsfocused on whether those who had experienced childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and received support from non-offending parents had more satisfying adult romantic attachments and fewer psychiatric symptoms than the CSA victims who did not receive such parental support.

Abstract

The study found that perceived parental support for a child after the disclosure of CSA serves as a protective factor against maladjustment in subsequent adult romantic relationships and psychological difficulties. Fifty-nine (17 percent) of the 348 study participants reported CSA, within this subgroup, 14 percent (n=8) reported receiving parental intervention after the abuse was disclosed; 15 percent (n=9) reported a lack of parental intervention in response to the abuse; and 71 percent (n=42) reported that their non-abusive parent(s) was (were) unaware of their abuse. The study found that compared to other groups of CSA survivors, the group with non-supportive parents who were aware of their child's sexual abuse had higher levels of anxious romantic attachment, psychological symptoms, and couple maladjustment. In contrast, CSA survivors with supportive parents expressed psychological and couple adjustment equivalent to non-abused participants, as well as lower attachment avoidance compared to all other groups. Study participants were recruited as volunteers through various media outlets. A history of CSA was measured with the Childhood Sexual Experiences Questionnaire. Perceived parental support was assessed by asking the participant about the reaction of his/her non-abusive parent(s) once sexual abuse was disclosed. Attachment representations were measured with the Experiences in Close Relationships scale, and psychological distress was measured with the Psychiatric Symptoms Index. The Dyadic Adjustment Scale assessed level of relationship quality and satisfaction. 1 table, 2 figures, and 59 references