Secondary Traumatization in Parents Following the Disclosure of Extrafamilial Child Sexual Abuse: Initial Effects

• NCJ Number: 165026
• Journal: Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 20 Issue: 11 Dated: (November 1996) Pages: 1095-1109
• Author(s): I G Manion; J McIntyre; P Firestone; M Ligezinska; R Ensom; G Wells
• Date Published: 1996
• Length: 15 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The adjustment of 63 mothers and 30 fathers within 3 months of the disclosure of child sexual abuse perpetrated by someone outside the family was compared with that of a nonclinical comparison group of 74 mothers and 62 fathers.

Abstract

Participants were contacted by child protection personnel and other professionals in Ontario, Canada. Parent adjustment was assessed using self-report measures of psychological distress, parent competence, family functioning, marital functioning, life stressors, and environmental support. Results revealed that mothers of sexually abused children experienced greater overall emotional distress, poorer family functioning, and lower satisfaction in their parenting role than did the mothers of nonabused children. Fathers of sexually abused children also experienced greater overall emotional distress relative to comparison fathers, but their level of distress remained below that of mothers. Standard and hierarchical multiple regressions on maternal self-reports revealed that mother's satisfaction with their parenting role and their perceived level of outside support predicted their emotionally functioning. Abuse-related variables did not contribute to the prediction of emotional functioning. Results emphasize the need to expand our focus beyond the child victims to the traumatized families and to understand that it is normal for all close family members to be vulnerable to experiencing adjustment difficulties following extrafamilial sexual abuse.