Experiences of Parents of Adult Survivors’ Disclosures of Child Sexual Abuse

Abstract

To date, no empirical studies have examined the experiences of parents of adult children disclosing previous childhood sexual abuse (CSA), an often-overlooked population potentially in need of support and clinical care. To explore the experiences of parents of adult-disclosing CSA survivors, we conducted semi-structured interviews with four parents of two adult sons who disclosed a history of having been previously sexually abused in childhood by a common perpetrator. Using a narrative analysis approach, the qualitative data revealed several important themes elucidating parents’ experiences of the disclosures and related emotional and cognitive effects. Findings from this study suggest that parents of adult-disclosing CSA survivors may experience significant psychological impacts, including symptoms of secondary traumatization, and point to the potential need for supportive care for other members of the family system.