“Grieving someone who’s still alive, that’s hard”: the experiences of non-offending partners of individuals who have sexually offended – an IPA study
Date
2022
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Publisher
Journal of Sexual Aggression
Abstract
The non-offending partners (NOPs) of individuals who have committed
sexual offences face significant repercussions following the discovery of
their partner’s crimes. However, NOPs support needs have typically
been overlooked, with priority instead placed on equipping NOPs with
the skills to monitor their partner’s behaviour and/or protect their
children from sexual abuse. The present study used Interpretive
Phenomenological Analysis to qualitatively explore the accounts of
women whose partners had committed a sexual offence (n = 9). Results
highlighted that NOPs experience multiple losses, trauma, and dramatic
shifts in their identities and cognitions following the discovery of their
partner’s crimes via a “knock on the door” from the police. The findings
highlight NOPs post-discovery support needs and have implications for
professionals and agencies working with NOPs.
Description
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Keywords
nonoffending caregivers, internet offending, phenomenological analysis, nonoffending partner, International Resources, United Kingdom
Citation
Duncan, K., Wakeham, A., Winder, B., Blagden, N., & Armitage, R. (2022). “Grieving someone who’s still alive, that’s hard”: the experiences of non-offending partners of individuals who have sexually offended–an IPA study. Journal of Sexual Aggression, 1-15.