Experiences of Mothers Who Are Child Sexual Abuse Survivors: A Qualitative Exploration

Abstract

Child sexual abuse (CSA) has been associated with a number of problems affecting women over their lifespan, including difficulties with parenting. However, there is a modest number of qualitative studies examining the impact of CSA on survivors who are mothers. There is a particular need for qualitative investigations that ask survivors who are mothers general questions about the impact of CSA on their lives rather than those that specifically ask about the impact of CSA on parenting. The former approach would allow survivors to describe effects that may impact parenting, but which survivors do not consciously link to affecting their parenting. Such information may inform interventions to assist this population of survivors. This secondary data analysis examined themes revealed in interviews with 44 survivors of CSA who were mothers. Participants were seeking treatment for their CSA and completed an in-person interview where they were asked open-ended questions about the sexual abuse they experienced as a child and how their abuse affects them now as adults. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded using thematic analysis. The following six themes emerged from the narratives: 1) being a parent, 2) family of origin dysfunction, 3) the impact of abuse, 4) the abuse history and response to abuse, 5) coping, and 6) hopes and desires for the future. This study highlights several ways in which CSA impacts survivors who are mothers, areas for further study, and the need for interventions to assist this population in meeting the challenges they face as mothers.

A Qualitative Metasynthesis of Mothers’ Adverse Childhood Experiences and Parenting Practices

“…For example, mothers described shielding their children from substance use (Wiig et al, 2014) and planning for a successful future for their children (Kistin et al, 2014;Woods-Jaeger et al, 2018). Other mothers practiced hypervigilant parenting practices such as having a preoccupation with real or imagined abuse of their children and constantly worrying about their children's safety (Cavanaugh et al, 2015). Mothers also reported being cognizant of the cycle of abuse and were mindful of their parenting practices as a means to break the cycle (Aparicio, 2017;SmithBattle, 2018;Woods-Jaeger et al, 2018).…”

Working with women in Turkey exposed to childhood sexual abuse

“…The most prominent impact on sexuality is feeling disgusted with sex. This feeling of disgust is the most common response reported in studies on persons exposed to sexual abuse (Cavanaugh et al, ; Singh, Garnett, & Williams, ). Experiencing sexual abuse affects marital life.…”

“…The impacts of sexual abuse on the emotional are feelings of worthlessness, blame, disappointment, hopelessness, introversion, the desire to harm oneself, the desire to be strong, and not being able to forget. In one study, the sense of worthlessness was emphasized as one of the emotional effects of women exposed to childhood sexual abuse (Cavanaugh et al, ). Sexual abuse is identified as a dark stain on an individual's life and thus emerges the process of looking for the culprit responsible for this stain.…”

The Development of Guidance for Responding to Disclosure of Non‐recent Child Sexual Abuse within a Large Provider of Health Services for Adults and Children

“…Child sexual abuse is also well known to have both immediate and longer‐term effects on mental health and emotional wellbeing. This is highlighted in studies of specific groups of adults (Cavanaugh, 2015; Coles, 2015; Easton‐Scott, 2013). Furthermore, literature reviews (Browne and Finkelhor, 1986; Cashmore and Shackel, 2013; Fisher et al ., 2017; Gilbert et al ., 2009; Hillberg, 2011; Maniglio, 2013; Ross et al ., 1990) clearly outline the range of emotional or mental health difficulties associated with sexual abuse; these include: low self‐esteem, sexual relationship difficulties, trauma‐related beliefs, self‐harm and suicidal behaviours, as well as anxiety and depression, post‐traumatic stress disorder and personality disorder.…”