Believe #metoo: Sexual Violence and Interpersonal Disclosure Experiences Among Women Attending a Sexual Assault Service in Australia: A Mixed-methods Study
Date
2019
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BMJ Open
Abstract
Objectives Sexual abuse is a strong predictor of future psychiatric problems. A more nuanced qualitative understanding of mental health outcomes, in the context of interpersonal responses from family members towards survivors after sexual abuse, may help to better inform prevention and interventions. Design A mixed-methods approach included a qualitative timeline method to map and identify contextual factors and mediating emotional responses associated with mental disorder following sexual abuse…Results The MINI prevalence of current post-traumatic stress disorder was 96.6% (n=28) and of major depressive disorder was 82.8% (n=24). More than half (53%) reported suicidal ideation at some time in their lives. Women exposed to childhood sexual abuse reported being ignored, not believed, or threatened with retribution on disclosing the abuse to others, usually adult family members, at or close to the time of the violation(s). Participants described experiences of self-blame, betrayal, and psychosocial vulnerability as being the responses that connected negative disclosure experiences with mental disorder. Participant accounts suggest that these reactions created the foundations for both immediate and long-term adverse psychological outcomes. Conclusion A more in-depth understanding of the type and emotional impact of negative responses to disclosure by parents and other family members, and the barriers to adequate support, validation and trust, may inform strategies to avert much of the longer-term emotional difficulties and risks that survivors encounter following childhood abuse experiences. These issues should receive closer attention in research, policy, and practice. (Author Abstract)
Description
item.page.type
Article
item.page.format
Keywords
Mixed Methods Research, Women, Adult Survivors of Child Abuse, Child Sexual Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Emotional Burden, Emotional Distress, #MeToo, Long Term Effects, Mental Health, PTSD, Posttraumatic Stress, Disclosure, Believing Victims, Threatening Behavior
Citation
Rees, Susan, Simpson, Lisa, McCormack, Clare, Moussa, Batool, & Amanatidis, Sue. (2019). Believe #metoo: Sexual Violence and Interpersonal Disclosure Experiences Among Women Attending a Sexual Assault Service in Australia: A Mixed-methods Study. BMJ Open. 9(7), 1-11 pgs.