Childhood disclosure of sexual abuse: Necessary but not necessarily sufficient

Swingle, Janine M; Tursich, Mischa; Cleveland, Jonathan M.; Gold, Steven N.; Tolliver, Sue Fields; Michaels, L.; Kupperman-Caron, Laura N.; Garcia-Larrieu, Maria; Sciarrino, Nicole A.

doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2016.10.009

Cited by 27 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Results indicate that early disclosure (i.e., within one year of the sexual abuse) was a powerful protective factor against mental distress, accounting for approximately a three-unit decrease in symptoms. This finding is consistent with results from some empirical studies based on large, non-clinical samples (Easton, 2014;Ruggiero et al, 2004;Ullman, 2007), but is inconsistent with findings of other studies (e.g., Swingle et al, 2016). The contrasting results may be due to sample differences (i.e., clinical versus non-clinical) or measurement issues.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

“…The contrasting results may be due to sample differences (i.e., clinical versus non-clinical) or measurement issues. For example, Swingle et al (2016) used a narrow definition of early disclosure (i.e., as the abuse was occurring), whereas other studies had an expanded notion of early disclosure (e.g., within one month; Ruggiero et al, 2004).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The current study supports conventional wisdom underlying secondary prevention programs, which encourage children to tell someone about the sexual abuse in a timely manner. Admittedly, early disclosure may introduce short-term problems (e.g., family disruption and conflict) or fail to end the abuse (Swingle et al, 2016). It should also be noted that there may be valid reasons for delayed reporting in individual cases (e.g., personal safety).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Childhood disclosure of sexual abuse and mental health outcomes in adulthood: Assessing merits of early disclosure and discussion

Easton

2019

Child Abuse & Neglect

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Background: Empirical research on the impact of early disclosure of child sexual abuse (CSA) on survivor health is limited and mixed. One recent study found that early disclosure may actually be detrimental for abuse cessation and adult symptomatology (Swingle et al., 2016). The current study reexamined the effects of early disclosure and related variables on long-term mental health for men with histories of CSA. Objective: The primary aims of this study were to: a) investigate whether early disclosure and response to early disclosure were related to mental distress in adulthood, and b) examine whether having an in-depth discussion and timing of that discussion were related to mental distress in adulthood. Participants and Setting: Data were collected from a large, non-clinical sample of male survivors (N=487), ranging in age from 19 to 84 years, through an online, anonymous survey. Methods: Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted by entering groups of variables in four steps: control variables, CSA severity, disclosure, and discussion. Results: Overall, models explained between 24-28% of the variance in mental distress. None of the CSA severity variables reached significance. Both early disclosure (β= −0.126, p = 0.003) and response to first disclosure (β = −0.119, p = 0.006) were significant protective factors in Model 3. In the final model, having an in-depth discussion (β = −0.085, p = < 0.036) and years until discussion (β = 0.102, p = 0.029) were also related to mental distress. Conclusions: Results support the merits of early disclosure and discussion on long-term mental health. Implications for future research and practice are presented.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Childhood disclosure of sexual abuse and mental health outcomes in adulthood: Assessing merits of early disclosure and discussion

Easton

2019

Child Abuse & Neglect

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“…Swingle et al . (2016), in their study of adult survivors, have noted concerns about the longer term consequences of disclosure when support is not available following disclosure. This highlights the need for ongoing professional support for families as they navigate their way through services and the aftermath of disclosure.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

What Helps Children Tell? A Qualitative Meta‐Analysis of Child Sexual Abuse Disclosure

Brennan

McElvaney

2020

Child Abuse Review

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The increasing use of qualitative methodologies to explore experiences of child sexual abuse (CSA) disclosure has led to the need to synthesise these findings. Recent reviews have tended to focus on the barriers to disclosure more than the facilitators or to conflate findings from studies of adults and studies of children and adolescents. This paper focuses on a qualitative meta‐analysis of studies conducted in the past 20 years (1998–2018) that addresses the question of what helps children disclose experiences of CSA. An analysis of 20 studies that met the inclusion criteria suggests that six key themes are important facilitators of disclosure: access to someone you can trust; realising it's not normal; inability to cope with emotional distress; wanting something to be done about it; expecting to be believed; and being asked. These can be conceptualised as representing two key dynamics that help children tell: needing to tell (pressure cooker effect), and opportunity to tell. Professionals and carers can facilitate the process of disclosure through building trusting relationships with children, recognising their distress and initiating conversations with children about their wellbeing. Key Practitioner Messages There is a need for the focus to be on what helps children tell rather than what hinders children telling. Children need those around them to notice when they need to talk about themselves and what is happening in their lives – when they are unable to cope with their distress, when they want something done about it. Professionals and adults interacting with children need to ask children about their lives and wellbeing, in order to: help create opportunities for children to tell; help them access someone they can trust; let them know they will be taken seriously; and help them to understand that abusive behaviour is not normal.

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“…There is a certain naïveté among some commentators that CSA is the subject of universal condemnation, and even overreaction, in society, academia and among professionals. In fact, research on responses to CSA disclosures reveals considerable ambivalence, and children who disclose abuse are frequently not believed and are left unprotected (Swingle et al ., ). Recent high‐profile investigations have demonstrated the ease with which some professionals hold children responsible for abuse and accuse them of taking an active, seductive role (Salter and Dagistanli, ).…”

Section: Strengthening Our Moral Consensusmentioning

confidence: 97%

Child Sexual Abuse: Ethics and Evidence

Salter

2018

Child Abuse Review

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Childhood disclosure of sexual abuse: Necessary but not necessarily sufficient

Cited by 27 publications

References 47 publications

Childhood disclosure of sexual abuse and mental health outcomes in adulthood: Assessing merits of early disclosure and discussion

Childhood disclosure of sexual abuse and mental health outcomes in adulthood: Assessing merits of early disclosure and discussion

What Helps Children Tell? A Qualitative Meta‐Analysis of Child Sexual Abuse Disclosure

Child Sexual Abuse: Ethics and Evidence

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