Treatment Implications Arising From a Qualitative Analysis of Letters Written by the Nonoffending Partners of Men Who Have Perpetrated Child Sexual Abuse

• NCJ Number: 245163
• Journal: Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 22 Issue: 6 Dated: 2013 Pages: 720-741
• Author(s): Hilary Cahalane; Gemma Parker; Simon Duff
• Date Published: 2013
• Length: 22 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This research examines women whose partners have perpetrated child sexual abuse.

Abstract

There is a dearth of current empirical research exploring the experiences of nonoffending partners, or women whose partners have perpetrated child sexual abuse. Existing literature is dated and focuses disproportionately on intrafamilial abuse. This research explores how nonoffending partners construct and understand their experiences using thematic analysis within a social constructionist framework. Findings indicate that discovery of a partner's sexual offending is a profoundly distressing experience. It can inhibit a woman's ability to process the broader implications of her partner's behavior, including issues of risk, the impact on the victim, and the additional protective responsibilities she must adopt in the future. Implications for future research and clinical practice are discussed. Abstract published by arrangement with Taylor and Francis.