The Disclosure Experiences of Male Child Sexual Abuse Survivors

Gagnier, Charlotte; Collin‐Vézina, Delphine

doi:10.1080/10538712.2016.1124308

Cited by 112 publications

(86 citation statements)

References 86 publications

(312 reference statements)

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“…This may demonstrate an increased vulnerability for male victims of sexual abuse who are not disclosing and accessing services (Artz et al, 2016). Several qualitative studies similarly find that male childhood sexual abuse victims experience similar barriers to disclosures as females and, in addition, face negative stereotypes and lack of acceptance of male sexual victimisation (Gagnier & Collin-Vézina, 2016;Sorsoli, Kia-Keating, & Grossman, 2008). Future qualitative research in South Africa should examine this further.…”

Section: Factors Associated With Help-seekingmentioning

confidence: 90%

Disclosure of physical, emotional and sexual child abuse, help-seeking and access to abuse response services in two South African Provinces

Meinck

Cluver

Loening-Voysey³

et al. 2017

Psychology, Health & Medicine

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Physical, emotional and sexual child abuse are major problems in South Africa. This study investigates whether children know about post-abuse services, if they disclose and seek services, and what the outcomes of help-seeking behaviour are. It examines factors associated with request and receipt of services. Confidential selfreport questionnaires were completed by adolescents aged 10-17 (n = 3515) in South Africa. Prevalence of frequent (>weekly) physical abuse was 7.4%, frequent emotional abuse 12.4%, and lifetime contact sexual abuse 9.0%. 98.6% could name one suitable confidante or formal service for abuse disclosure, but only 20.0% of abuse victims disclosed. Of those, 72% received help. Most common confidantes were caregivers and teachers. Of all abuse victims, 85.6% did not receive help due to non-disclosure or inactivity of services, and 14.4% received help: 4.9% from formal health or social services and 7.1% through community vigilante action. Emotional abuse, sexual abuse and female gender were associated with higher odds of help-seeking. While children in South Africa showed high knowledge of available services, access to and receipt of formal services among abused children was low. Notably fewer children received help from formal services than through community vigilante action. Urgent action is needed to improve service access for child abuse victims."I went to the police to tell them that that boy who had raped me was harassing me. They laughed and said I should not bother them. So now, every time he rapes me I won't go to the police because they won't believe I am telling the truth. " (Girl, 17, Mpumalanga)

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Section: Factors Associated With Help-seekingmentioning

confidence: 90%

Disclosure of physical, emotional and sexual child abuse, help-seeking and access to abuse response services in two South African Provinces

Meinck

Cluver

Loening-Voysey³

et al. 2017

Psychology, Health & Medicine

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“…Boys may report a greater sense of guilt because they may perceive that they were not able to protect themselves, which is a prescribed role for men. In fact, these gender norms may reinforce guilt felt by boys, which may influence outcomes and delay disclosure (Gagnier & Collin-Vézina, 2016). Sense of guilt and self-blame are correlates that have been shown to mediate SA outcomes (Feiring & Cleland, 2007), such as PTSD symptoms (Cantón-Cortés et al, 2011).…”

Section: Gender Differences: Potential Interpretationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gender as a predictor of posttraumatic stress symptoms and externalizing behavior problems in sexually abused children

Gauthier-Duchesne

Hébert

Daspe

2017

Child Abuse & Neglect

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Despite the proliferation of studies documenting outcomes in sexually abused victims, gender differences remain understudied. The bulk of studies have relied on retrospective samples of adults with insufficient representation of male victims to explore gender specificities. This study examined differential outcomes among boy and girl victims of sexual abuse. A predictive model of outcomes including abuse characteristics and sense of guilt as mediators was proposed. Path analysis was conducted with a sample of 447 sexually abused children (319 girls and 128 boys), aged 6 to 12. Being a girl was a predictor of posttraumatic stress symptoms, while being a boy was a predictor of externalizing problems. Being a boy was also associated with more severe abuse, which in turn predicted posttraumatic stress symptoms. Child's gender was not related to perpetrator's relationship to the child or sense of guilt. However, sense of guilt predicted posttraumatic stress symptoms and externalizing problems while perpetrator's relationship to the child predicted externalizing problems. Gender specificities should be further studied among sexually abused children, as boys and girls appear to manifest different outcomes. Sense of guilt should be a target in intervention for sexually abused children, as results highlight its link to heightened negative outcomes.

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“…Feelings of shame and guilt, fears for being blamed, or self-blame often withhold children from disclosing [17, 36]. In younger, preschool children, there are verbal limitations that might retain them from telling [8].…”

Section: What Makes It So Difficult To Recognize Csa In Children?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical practice: recognizing child sexual abuse—what makes it so difficult?

et al. 2018

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Recognizing child sexual abuse (CSA) in children is difficult, as there can be many hurdles in the assessment of alleged CSA. With this paper, we try to improve the recognition of CSA by discussing: (1) the difficulties regarding this matter and (2) the diagnostic evaluation of alleged CSA, combining both practical clinical recommendations based on recent research. Children are restrained to disclose CSA due to various reasons, such as fears, shame, and linguistic or verbal limitations. Associations between CSA and urogenital or gastrointestinal symptoms, internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and atypical sexual behavior in children have been reported. However, these symptoms are non-specific for CSA. The majority of sexually abused children do not display signs of penetrative trauma at anogenital examination. Diagnosing a STI in a child can indicate CSA. However, other transmission routes (e.g., vertical transmission, auto-inoculation) need to be considered as well.Conclusion: The assessment consists of medical interview and child interview (parents and child separate and together) with special attention to the child’s development and behavior (problems), psychosocial situation and physical complaints, the child’s mental health, and the child’s trauma history; anogenital examination should be done in all cases of alleged CSA. The examination should be documented by photo or video graphically. Recent research suggests that videography may be the preferred method, and testing on STIs. The assessment should be done multidisciplinary by experienced professionals. Health-care professionals who care for children need to know how child protective agencies and law enforcement are organized. In case there are concerns about a child’s safety, the appropriate authorities should be alarmed.What is Known:• Sexual abuse in children often remains unrecognized in the majority of cases.What is New:• Research suggests that videographic documentation is preferred above photographic documentation for anogenital examination; observations of children’s behavioral reactions during examinations might be valuable in the evaluation of suspected sexual abuse; nucleic acid amplification testing can be used on vaginal swabs or urine samples for chlamydia and gonorrhea; the CRIES-13 and the CAPS-CA can be used to assess trauma-symptoms in children after sexual abuse.

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The Disclosure Experiences of Male Child Sexual Abuse Survivors

Cited by 112 publications

References 86 publications

Disclosure of physical, emotional and sexual child abuse, help-seeking and access to abuse response services in two South African Provinces

Disclosure of physical, emotional and sexual child abuse, help-seeking and access to abuse response services in two South African Provinces

Gender as a predictor of posttraumatic stress symptoms and externalizing behavior problems in sexually abused children

Clinical practice: recognizing child sexual abuse—what makes it so difficult?

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