Maternal Protectiveness Following the Disclosure of Intrafamilial Child Sexual Abuse

• NCJ Number: 161932
• Journal: Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 11 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1996) Pages: 181-194
• Author(s): J Heriot
• Date Published: 1996
• Length: 14 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study focused on the proportion of mothers who acted protectively following the disclosure of intrafamilial child sexual abuse and identified the factors associated with maternal nonprotectiveness.

Abstract

The sample consisted of 118 mothers of children whose sexual abuse was reported to and substantiated by the Sexual Abuse Intake Units of the Child Protective Service Divisions of Baltimore City and Baltimore County Departments of Social Service. The cases met the following criteria: the children were sexually abused by a family member; the perpetrator was at least 16 years old and 5 years older than the victimized child; and the mother, perpetrator, and sexually abused child or children all shared the same residence when the sexual abuse was reported. Every substantiated case of intrafamilial child sexual abuse that met the study criteria from May 1988 to October 1989 was included in the study. Data on maternal protectiveness and potential risk factors were obtained from two sources. The first, a questionnaire developed by the researcher and completed by sexual abuse intake workers, provided information about maternal protectiveness, maternal belief, and data about the mother and her relationship to the perpetrator. Identifying and demographic data about the mother and her sexually abused child, as well as information about the reported sexual abuse, were abstracted from an intake form that is required for all reports of child abuse in Maryland. The findings show that 57 percent of the mothers took action to separate from the perpetrators; two-thirds were supportive of their children, and 52 percent did both. Mothers were more likely to act protectively if their feelings toward the perpetrator were negative, if the perpetrator was not the mother's partner, and if the sexual abuse did not involve intercourse. Mothers of teenagers were less likely to act protectively than mothers of younger children; and mothers who abused drugs or alcohol were at risk for nonprotection. 2 tables and 28 references