The lived experience of non-offending mothers in cases of intrafamilial child sexual abuse: Towards a preliminary model of loss, trauma and recovery
Date
2017
Authors
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Publisher
Edith Cowan University
Abstract
The non-offending mother in cases of intrafamilial child sexual abuse has received limited
empirical attention in comparative to the considerable body of literature examining victims
and perpetrators of child sexual abuse. There is growing evidence that demonstrates that nonoffending
mothers’ experience significant loss and trauma following the discovery of their
children’s sexual victimisation by a family member, particularly where the perpetrators are
their partners. An understanding of the non-offending mother’s experience is crucial to guiding
statutory agencies and therapeutic interventions when working with these families. However,
there is currently not a model or framework that conceptualises mothers’ post-discovery
experience, and the factors that might impede or facilitate their recovery. The aim with the
present study was to address the gap in the existing literature, by conducting an exploratory
investigation of the lived experience of non-offending mothers in order to generate a
preliminary model outlining their recovery journey in the aftermath of discovery, drawing from
existing theories of loss and trauma. The present study comprises two stages; in the first stage,
qualitative interviews were conducted with a sample of eleven mothers. Data derived from the
interviews were analysed using qualitative thematic analysis, from which a preliminary model
was generated. The model proposed the non-offending mother’s recovery journey comprises
three primary phases; the Acute Phase (Discovery and Destabilisation), the Transition Phase
(Loss and Disempowerment), and the Transformative Phase (Taking Control and
Accommodation). The preliminary model identified unique aspects of the maternal experience
not sufficiently accounted for by many of the existing theoretical conceptualisations. The
second stage of the study utilised a Delphi methodology to seek feedback on the proposed
model from a panel of 18 key experts in the field of intrafamilial child sexual abuse. The input
from the Delphi panel was utilised to further refine and validate the preliminary model. The
panel confirmed the preliminary model provided a valid representation of the non-offending
mother’s post-discovery experience with minor alterations. The findings of the present study
are an important progression towards developing a more comprehensive and unified
conceptualisation of the experiences of the non-offending mother in the aftermath of
discovery. This in turn has important implications for the intervening professionals from both
statutory and therapeutic orientations who work with this population.
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Article
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Keywords
non-offending caregiver, intrafamilial abuse, child sexual abuse
Citation
Thompson, A. J. (2017). The lived experience of non-offending mothers in cases of intrafamilial child sexual abuse: Towards a preliminary model of loss, trauma and recovery. Joondalup, Western Australia: Edith Cowan University.