Disclosure, reactions, and social support: findings from a sample of adult victims of child sexual abuse

Child Maltreat. 2004 May;9(2):190-200. doi: 10.1177/1077559504264263.

Abstract

Information about abuse characteristics, disclosure, and current social support was collected through semistructured interviews and questionnaires from 122 adult women reporting exposure to child sexual abuse by someone close. Women who used an active disclosure strategy in childhood reported more physical and violent abuse. Moreover, women who reported more severe abuse had more often received negative reactions from the social network. Furthermore, a relation was found between current social support and positive-but not negative-reactions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Child
  • Child Abuse / diagnosis
  • Child Abuse / psychology*
  • Child Abuse / statistics & numerical data
  • Crime Victims*
  • Humans
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Social Support*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Truth Disclosure*