Adolescent Perspectives on Social Support Received in the Aftermath of Sexual Abuse: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

The extent and quality of social support provided to young survivors of sexual abuse (SA) have only rarely been examined. This qualitative study aimed to investigate adolescent perspectives on social support received in the aftermath of SA. A total of 26 sexually victimized adolescents (15-18 years old) participated in a qualitative face-to-face, in-depth interview that focused on perceived social support. Qualitative content analysis was conducted as per Mayring (2008) using the qualitative data analysis program ATLAS.ti. In addition, quantitative correlational analyses were conducted to identify characteristics of SA and their associations with perceived social support. Although participants perceived parental support as the most necessary type of support, they were much more satisfied with support from peers. In particular, adolescents stated that they wished they had received more emotional support from their parents in order to better cope with the abuse. About half of participants reported having received counseling, and counseling was seen as very helpful in dealing with the consequences of SA. Only a few adolescents mentioned their school as a source of support. Intra-familial abuse, younger victim age at the time of abuse, an adult perpetrator, and severe abuse were all negatively associated with satisfaction with perceived support. Our results suggest that support for young survivors of SA needs to be improved. Prevention of SA needs particular focus on improving parental reactions to SA, facilitating access to professional support, and raising teacher awareness of the importance of their role in the provision of support for sexually victimized children.

Conceptualising a Proposed Support Strategy for Sexually Abused Boys in Middle Childhood

“…The value of social support (Arias & Johnson, 2013;Sperry & Widom, 2013) to MCSA victims should be emphasised, as it can be seen as another protective factor against the negative impact of MCSA (Schönbucher et al, 2014). Support to MCSA victims is an ongoing process and therefore the application of these strategies will never come to an end.…”

“…The individual can function as part of an interpersonal network (Wilson & Scarpa, 2013). Social support can be seen as a protective factor among individuals at risk (Arias & Johnson, 2013;Sperry & Widom, 2013), such as MCSA victims (Schönbucher, Maier, Mohler-Kuo, Schnyder & Landolt, 2014). Yet no research at national or at international level about support strategies for MCSA victims placed in a clinic school could be located.…”

Psychometrics of a Child Report Measure of Maternal Support following Disclosure of Sexual Abuse

“…The impact of maternal support on CSA has been demonstrated both soon after the abuse and longitudinally, particularly when considering the relationship between maternal support and child depression (Zajac, Ralston, & Smith, 2015), and abuse survivors’ later relationship functioning as adults (Godbout, Briere, Sabourin, & Lussier, 2014). Finally, youth place a high value on parental support following sexual abuse, and they often wish they had received more of it (Schönbucher, Maier, Mohler-Kuo, Schnyder, & Landolt, 2014). …”

Disclosure von Jugendlichen in Jugendhilfeeinrichtungen und Internaten nach sexueller Gewalterfahrung

“…Falls sich Betroffene nach einem Ereignis doch anvertrauen, so wenden sie sich insbesondere an nahestehende Personen (Crisma, Bascelli, Paci, Romito, 2004;Hershkowitz et al, 2007;Priebe u. Svedin, 2008;Rosenthal, Feiring, Taska, 2003;Schönbucher, Maier, Mohler-Kuo, Schnyder, Landolt, 2014). Kinder wenden sich dabei eher an ihre Eltern (Kogan, 2004;Paine u. Hansen, 2002;Priebe u. Svedin, 2008) und Jugendliche vor allem an Gleichaltrige (Allnock u. Miller, 2013;Hershkowitz et al, 2007;UBS Optimus Foundation, 2012;Schönbucher et al, 2012).…”

“…Als positiv empfunden wird, wenn der Vorfall nicht angezweifelt wird, eine schamreduzierende Gesprächsatmosphäre besteht oder emotionale Unterstützung sowie Hilfen angeboten werden (Allnock u. Miller, 2013;Hunter 2011;Ullman, 2003). Fragt man direkt nach den Gründen, warum sich jemand anvertraut hat, so wünschten sich die befragten Kinder und Jugendlichen in erster Linie Empathie und emotionale Unterstützung (Crisma et al, 2004;Schönbucher et al, 2014), die sie selten in dem erhofften Maße tatsächlich dann erhielten (Schönbucher et al, 2014). Möglicherweise liegt das daran, dass Ansprechpersonen generell schockiert reagieren, häufig dem Kind unterstellen, zu lügen, die Aussagen des Kindes ignorieren, herunterspielen oder es bestrafen und zurückwiesen (Allnock u. Miller, 2013;Moors u. Webber, 2012;Schaeffer, Leventhal, Asnes, 2011;Ullman, 2003).…”