Parents of Adolescents Who Have Sexually Offended

Abstract

When an adolescent sexually offends, it is a traumatic experience in the lives of their families. However, there is limited research about the experiences of these family members. This article presents two qualitative pilot studies that explored the experiences of eight parents and parental figures of adolescents who have sexually offended (ASOs). Both studies are presented to give a more complete description of the experience. Data were collected using a focus group and individual interviews. The purpose of Study 1 was to identify how parents of ASOs felt when they provided support to their child after his sexual offense. The overarching theme that emerged from the data was to prevent reoffending within the context of the prescribed treatment. Three main themes emerged within this process: an interactive relationship between the parent and the child, identified as being there; the parental toll; and aspirations for the child's future. Study 2 was then conducted to further explore the parental toll using an interview guide that was developed using the Trauma Outcome Process as a theoretical framework. It aimed to identify their lived experience and describe ways in which they coped with the emotional toll. Four main themes emerged: coping with the initial response, coping with feeling responsible, coping with feeling alone and overwhelmed, and benefits from participating in a family support group. These findings revealed parents' perceptions of reality while living and coping with the experience of having a child who sexually offended. Results will be used in the development of an intervention to help this population gain acceptance and cope with this experience.

Parental Perspectives on the Emotional, Relational and Logistical Impacts on Siblings of Youth Who Sexually Offend

“…Our findings show that parents are aware that not only is the emotional well-being of siblings compromised, but their need to be supported and informed of all the formal and informal implications affecting their offending relative, their family and themselves, especially through a child rights-centred approach, is also often overlooked (Gervais and others, in press;Hackett and others, 2014). As such, our study extends the literature that underscores the importance of parents' views, contributions and commitments towards addressing the needs of sexual abuse-affected children and in improving service provision (Duane and others, 2002;Hackett, 2001;Hackett and Masson, 2006;Jones, 2015;Pierce, 2011;Thornton and others, 2008).…”

“…Given the impact that youth sexual offending has on families' well-being and relationships (Duane and others, 2002;Gervais and Romano, 2018;Hackett and others, 2014;Jones, 2015;Pierce, 2011;Romano and Gervais, 2018;Thornton and others, 2008;Worley and others, 2011), additional hardships are inevitably intertwined in instances of sibling sexual offending. A UK study (Hackett and others, 2014) found that caregivers' responses to their sexual offending youth were varied, but the most supportive caregivers had youth who committed a sexual offence against a child outside the family whereas the most negative reactions (i.e.…”

The impact of disrupted caregiving for juvenile sexual offenders

“…On the other hand, another feasible argument holds that committing a juvenile offence may, in and of itself, adversely impact the quality of the primary caregiver relationship. Research examining shame and stigma associated with parenting sexual offenders clearly documents that parents of juvenile sexual offenders struggle with accepting their child's crime and have difficulties expressing love for their child after the offence (Jones, 2015). Thus, there is evidence that the low quality caregiver-child relationships seen in the two high-delinquency groups both influence and are influenced by offence status.…”

Gratitude Can Increase Resilience in Adolescents Who Live in Orphanages

“…Adolescents need the support of parents or families who love them, provide perfection, consistency, and genuine and empathetic correspondence (Berger, Hasking, & Martin, 2013); (Jones, 2015).…”