Article type: Original Research
23 July 2015
Volume 40 Issue 3
Article type: Original Research
23 July 2015
Volume 40 Issue 3
Healing from Intrafamilial Child Sexual Abuse: The Role of Relational Processes between Survivor and Offender
Janice Paige1 *
Jennifer Thornton2
Affiliations
1 Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia
2 School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Bentley, Curtin University, Western Australia
Correspondence
* Janice Paige
Contributions
Janice Paige -
Jennifer Thornton -
Janice Paige1 *
Jennifer Thornton2
Affiliations
1 Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia
2 School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Bentley, Curtin University, Western Australia
Correspondence
* Janice Paige
Part of Special Series: Interpreting Neuroscience, Creating Evidence - a Collection of Australian Based Trauma Informed Research and Practice
CITATION: Paige J., & Thornton J. (2015). Healing from Intrafamilial Child Sexual Abuse: The Role of Relational Processes between Survivor and Offender. Children Australia, 40(3), 1973. doi.org/10.1017/cha.2015.21
Abstract
The research aim was to discover the circumstances, if any, in which contact with the parent who had abused them, could help survivors of intrafamilial child sexual abuse (ICSA) to recover from the inherent relational trauma. Thirty-five (31 female and 4 male) participants were recruited from across Australia and New Zealand to speak about their experience of post-abuse contact. The research methodology was primarily qualitative, and analysed in a contextual framework. In the Pre-Contact stage, themes such as the need for empowerment versus the fear of the response, linked to motivations for and against contact. Emotional reactions, and issues of acknowledgment and apology were core themes in the Contact stage. Post-contact themes related to evaluation of the overall experience. The majority of participants believed that their contact experience had helped more than hindered their recovery. Participants articulated the need for more public education about the complexity of ICSA, more options for dealing with the crime, and access to non-judgmental professional help for all the family at disclosure. The emergent themes provide a valuable guide for future research, policy and practice and perhaps most importantly, insight into the needs of victims and their recovery processes.