Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jn8rn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T04:47:20.389Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Moderating the consequences of child sexual abuse: The role of the family, the legal system and other support structures

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 February 2016

Christine Eastwood
Affiliation:
School of Learning and Development, Queensland University of Technology
Wendy Patton
Affiliation:
School of Learning and Development, Queensland University of Technology

Abstract

This paper addresses the question: Are the consequences of child sexual abuse moderated or exacerbated by the family, the legal system and other support structures which are involved following disclosure? To answer this question, the present study employs a methodology which enables the young women to discuss their experiences and feelings in each of these areas. Through a four stage interview process, in- depth data was gathered from five young women whose cases had been dealt with through the legal system, and from their mothers.

Given that little research has been undertaken in this area, particularly in Australia, the current work focuses on the ability of these groups to provide acceptance and validation subsequent to disclosure, and the resulting responses of the young women. The study concludes with a discussion on the effects of the response of the family, the legal system and other support on the young women, and raises some issues crucial to addressing societal response to child sexual abuse. Suggestions for further research are also offered.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Barringer, C. (1992) Speaking of Incest: its not enough to say the word, Feminism and Psychology, 2, 183188.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bass, E. & Thornton, L. (1983) I Never Told Anyone: Writings by Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse. New York: Harper & Row.Google Scholar
Berliner, L. & Barberi, M. (1984) The testimony of the child victim of sexual assault, Journal of Social Issues. 40, 125137.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berliner, L., Canfield-Blick, L. & Bulkley, J. (1981) Expert testimony on the dynamics of intra-family child sexual abuse and principles of child development. In Bulkley, J. (Ed), Child Sexual Abuse and the Law, Washington: National Legal Resource Centre for Child Advocacy & Prevention. 135152 Google Scholar
Brennan, M. & Brennan, R. (1988) Strange Language. Wagga Wagga: Riverina Literacy Centre.Google Scholar
Briggs, F. (1986) Child Sexual Abuse: Confronting the Problem. Melbourne: Pitman.Google Scholar
Browne, A. & Finkelhor, D. (1986) Initial and long term effects: a review of the research. In Finkelhor, D. (Ed.), A Sourcebook on Child Sexual Abuse, California: Sage Publications.. 180198 Google Scholar
Bulkley, J. (1992) Major Legal Issues in Child Sexual Abuse Cases. In O'Donohue, W. & Greer, J. (Eds,) The Sexual Abuse of Children. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.Google Scholar
Cashmore, J. & Horsky, M. (1987) Child Sexual Assault: The Court Response. NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research. Attorney General's Department, January.Google Scholar
Crewdson, J. (1988) By Silence Betrayed: Sexual Abuse of Children in America. Boston: Little Brown and Company.Google Scholar
DeJong, A. (1985) The medical evaluation of sexual abuse in children. Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 36, 509512.Google Scholar
Everson, M., Hunter, W., Runyon, D. & Edelsohn, M. (1989) Maternal support following disclosure of incest. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry. 59, 197207.Google Scholar
Finkelhor, D. (1979) Sexually Victimised Children. New York: The Free Press.Google Scholar
Finkelhor, D. (1984) Child Sexual Abuse: New Theory and Research. New York: MacMillan.Google Scholar
Finkelhor, D. (1986) A Sourcebook on Child Sexual Abuse. London: Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Finkelhor, D. (1990) Early and long term effects of child sexual abuse: an update. Professional Psychology - Research and Practice, 21, 325330.Google Scholar
Finkelhor, D. & Baron, L. (1986) High risk children. In Finkelhor, D. (Ed.), A Sourcebook on Child Sexual Abuse, California: Sage Publications. 6088 Google Scholar
Forward, S. & Buck, C. (1981) Betrayal of Innocence: Incest and its devastation. Harmondsworth: Penguin.Google Scholar
Furniss, T. (1991) The Multi-Professional Handbook of Child Sexual Abuse. New York: Routledge.Google Scholar
Gomes-Schwartz, B., Horowitz, J & Cardarelli, A. (1990) Child Sexual Abuse: The Initial Effects. California: Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Hale, M. (1713) Hale's Pleas of the Crown. Vol 1. (reprinted 1971) (Ed) Classics of British Historical Literature.Google Scholar
Hall, L. & Lloyd, S. (1989) Surviving Child Sexual Abuse: A Handbook for Helping Women Challenge their Past. Hampshire: The Falmer Press.Google Scholar
Haugaard, J. & Repucci, N. (1988) The Sexual Abuse of Children. San Fransisco: Josey-Bass Publishers.Google Scholar
Heath, I. (1985) Incest: A Crime Against Children. Melbourne: Victorian Government Printing Office.Google Scholar
Jones, D. & McGraw, J. (1987) Reliable and fictitious accounts of sexual abuse to children. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2, 2745.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kelly, L. (1988) Surviving Sexual Violence. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.Google Scholar
Kempe, R. S. & Kempe, C. H. (1978) Child Abuse. Fontana: London.Google Scholar
Kosky, R. (1991) Incest and its cycles of violence, In Hetherington, P. (Ed), Incest and the Community: Australian Perspectives, Australia: University of Western Australia. 173183 Google Scholar
Lustig, N., Dresser, J., Spellman, S. & Murray, T. (1966) Incest - a family group survival pattern. Archives of General Psychiatry, 14, 3140.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
MacFarlane, K., Cockriel, M. & Dugan, M. (1990) Treating young victims of incest In Oates, K. (Ed), Understanding and Managing Child Sexual Abuse Marrickville: Harcourt and Brace. 149177 Google Scholar
McGeorge, J. (1964) Sexual Assaults on Children. Medicine, Science and the Law. London: Cassell Publishers.Google Scholar
Morison, S. & Greene, E. (1992) Juror and expert knowledge of child sexual abuse. Child Abuse and Neglect, 16, 595613.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mulligan, E. (1986) Mothers Speak Out on Child Sexual Abuse: Report of a Phone-In, Adelaide. Southern Women's Health Centre. South Australia: Cruickshank Pty Ltd.Google Scholar
Muram, D. (1989) Child Sexual Abuse: Relationship between sexual acts and genital findings. Child Abuse and Neglect, 13, 211216.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nelson, S. (1987) Incest - Fact and Myth. 2nd Edition. Edinburgh: Stramullion.Google Scholar
Oates, K. [Ed] (1990) Understanding and Managing Child Sexual Abuse. Marrickville: Harcourt and Brace.Google Scholar
O'Donnell, C & Craney, J. [Eds.] (1982) Incest and the reproduction of the patriarchal family. In O'Donnell, C. & Craney, J. (Eds.), Family Violence in Australia Melbourne: Longman Cheshire. 155175 Google Scholar
Patton, W. & Mannison, M. (September 1993) Women's unwanted sexual experiences throughout life: a process of learning. Paper presented at the Australian Psychology Conference, Gold Coast.Google Scholar
Peters, J. (1976) Children who are victims of sexual assault. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 30, 407408.Google Scholar
Peters, J., Wyatt, G. & Finkelhor, D. (1986) Prevalence. In Finkelhor, D. (Ed), A Sourcebook on Child Sexual Abuse. Newbury Park: Sage Publications. 101118.Google Scholar
Peterson, R., Basta, S. & Dykstra, T. (1993) Mothers of molested children: some comparisons of personality characteristics. Child Abuse and Neglect, 17, 409418.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Porter, R. (1984) Child Sexual Abuse within the Family. New York: Ciba Foundation.Google Scholar
Raybacha, B. (1991) We get a life sentence: young people in care speak out on child sexual abuse. Journal of Child and Youth Cart, Special Issue. 129139.Google Scholar
Russell, D. (1983) Incidence and prevalence of intrafamily and extrafamily sexual abuse of female children. Child Abuse and Neglect. 7, 133146.Google Scholar
Rush, F. (1980) The Best Kept Secret. New York: Prentice Hall.Google Scholar
Schwartz-Kenny, B., Wilson, M. & Goodman, G. (1990) An examination of child witness accuracy. In Oates, K. (Ed) Understanding and Managing Child Sexual Abuse, Marrickville: Sydney 293311.Google Scholar
Scutt, J. (1990) Confronting Precedent and Prejudice. In Oates, K. (Ed) Understanding and Managing Child Sexual Abuse Marrickville: Harcourt Brace 312340.Google Scholar
Scutt, J. (1991) Law reform and child sexual abuse in Australia. In Hetherington, P. (Ed) Incest and the Community: Australian Perspective Western Australia: University of Western Australia 117138.Google Scholar
Sexual Offences Investigation Squad Queensland Police Service (1993) Sexual Assault Victim Survey. Research and Evaluation Branch. September.Google Scholar
Sgroi, A. (1982) Handbook of Clinical Intervention in Child Sexual Abuse. Massachusetts: Lexington Books.Google Scholar
Sink, F. (1988) Sexual Abuse in the lives of children. In Strauss, M. (Ed.) Abuse and Victimisation Across the Lifespan Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press 82106.Google Scholar
Spencer, J. & Flin, R. (1993) The Evidence of Children: The Law and Psychology. London: Blackstone Press.Google Scholar
Summit, R. (1983) The Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome. Child Abuse and Neglect, 7, 177193.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Summit, R. (1988) Hidden victims, hidden pain. In Wyatt, G. & Powell, G. (Eds.) Lasting Effects of Child Sexual Abuse, Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications 251270.Google Scholar
Sirles, E. & Franke, P. (1989) Factors influencing mothers' reactions to intrafamily sexual abuse. Child Abuse and Neglect, 13, 131139.Google Scholar
Wagner, W. (1991) Depression in mothers of sexually abused vs mothers of non abused children. Child Abuse and Neglect, 15, 99104.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ward, E. (1984) Father Daughter Rape. London: The Womens Press.Google Scholar
Whitcomb, D. (1992) When the Victim is a Child. US Department of Justice: National Institute of Justice.Google Scholar