Believe #metoo: sexual violence and interpersonal disclosure experiences among women attending a sexual assault service in Australia: a mixed-methods study

Abstract

ObjectivesSexual abuse is a strong predictor of future psychiatric problems. A more nuanced qualitative understanding of mental health outcomes, in the context of interpersonal responses from family members towards survivors after sexual abuse, may help to better inform prevention and interventions.DesignA mixed-methods approach included a qualitative timeline method to map and identify contextual factors and mediating emotional responses associated with mental disorder following sexual abuse.SettingParticipants were adult survivors of sexual abuse, seeking support from the Sexual Assault Counselling Service, Sydney Local Health District, Australia.ParticipantsThirty women 18 years and older with current or past mental disorder or symptoms were interviewed between August 2015 and May 2016.Outcome measuresA qualitative timeline interview and the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI, 5.5.0) were applied.ResultsThe MINI prevalence of current post-traumatic stress disorder was 96.6% (n=28) and of major depressive disorder was 82.8% (n=24). More than half (53%) reported suicidal ideation at some time in their lives. Women exposed to childhood sexual abuse reported being ignored, not believed, or threatened with retribution on disclosing the abuse to others, usually adult family members, at or close to the time of the violation(s). Participants described experiences of self-blame, betrayal, and psychosocial vulnerability as being the responses that connected negative disclosure experiences with mental disorder. Participant accounts suggest that these reactions created the foundations for both immediate and long-term adverse psychological outcomes.ConclusionA more in-depth understanding of the type and emotional impact of negative responses to disclosure by parents and other family members, and the barriers to adequate support, validation and trust, may inform strategies to avert much of the longer-term emotional difficulties and risks that survivors encounter following childhood abuse experiences. These issues should receive closer attention in research, policy, and practice.

Experiences of Women Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse in Relation to Nonsupportive Significant Adults: A Scoping Review

“…For many survivors, exiting the abusive environment was difficult or unlikely. These women reported that family members appeared to ignore, normalize the abuse, or minimize the severity thereof (Crowley & Seery, 2001; Lorentzen et al, 2008; Rees et al, 2019; Testa et al, 1990; White, 2013) and accuse the victim of not knowing what they were talking about (Mayhall, 2014) or that they had misunderstood the event (Crowley & Seery, 2001). In some cases, the victims were told upon disclosure that it was too late to disclose or report the abuse (Ussher & Dewberry, 1995).…”

“…Stigmatization and blaming the victim for abuse. Looking back at the responses to disclosure or discovery of sexual abuse, many behavior patterns of the NOSA were perceived as harmful in terms of stigmatizing and blaming reactions (Chien, 2005;Hunter, 2015;Rees et al, 2019;Winnett, 2012). Accusing the victim of the sexual abuse, or stating that the victim brought the abuse upon herself, is seen as a nonsupportive behavior (Gill & Harrison, 2019;Waller & Ruddock, 1993) and may result in future nondisclosure (Chien, 2005;Collin-Vézina et al, 2015), psychopathology (Waller & Ruddock, 1993), and negatively impact the victim's therapeutic process of recovery (Bagley & Young, 1999).…”

How, why, for whom and in what context, do sexual health clinics provide an environment for safe and supported disclosure of sexual violence: protocol for a realist review

“…While changes in societal norms have led to an increase in disclosing sexual violence, most of it remains hidden. [24][25][26][27] The latest Crime Survey for England and Wales shows that around five in six victims (83%) did not report their experiences to the police with annual figures for non-reported episodes around 160 000. 28 Many do not disclose because of stigma, victim-blaming, secrecy and self-silencing and self-blame.…”

“…32 Studies have reported an association between negative disclosure experiences and higher risk of onset of mental disorder, such as post-traumatic stress disorder. 33 34 If reactions to disclosure are critical in the recovery process, 27 it is important to consider what is meant by negative responses, and to consider how we create the space for 'safe' disclosures in health settings.…”

#MeToo, Sexual Harassment and Coping Strategies in Norwegian Newsrooms

“…The #MeToo campaign brought about a radical change of norms, with societies through #MeToo starting to see SH as a structural problem that needed to be taken seriously. The research on SH has also escalated in the wake of the campaign, with studies investigating the impact of #MeToo from the feminist, sociological, journalistic, legal, and medical perspective, including the impact on mental health outcomes (see e.g., Rees, Simpson, McCormack, Moussa, & Amanatidis, 2019;Wexler, Robbennolt, & Murphy, 2019).…”