Sexual education and development after early childhood sexual abuse: A qualitative study of experiences of parents and children

Abstract

Background In the Amsterdam Sexual Abuse Case (ASAC), infants and toddlers experienced childhood sexual abuse (CSA). The perpetrator was convicted, and psychosocial care was offered to children and families. A research project was established to investigate the impact of CSA at an early age, with this study specifically focusing on sexual education and development. Objective To investigate parents' and children's experiences with sexual education and development following CSA. Participants and setting We conducted interviews with 18 parents of 20 children, and with 6 children themselves. On average, the children were 16 months old at the time of the CSA and 16 years old during the interviews. Methods Qualitative open interviews using an interview guide, followed by thematic analysis. Results In general, parents and children reported common experiences with sexual education and development. However, some distinctive concerns related to past CSA were mentioned by parents such as added weight to talking about sex, being more cautious, and additional conversations about boundaries and possible influence on sexual experiences. Also, both parents and children expressed uncertainty about the impact of the past sexual abuse on sexual development. Conclusions Our findings generally align with existing literature on sexual education in a non-abused population. Impact on sexual development as perceived by parents and children was mostly absent, indicating resilience. Nonetheless, distinctive concerns and uncertainties about the impact of early CSA persist. Future research should delve deeper into the long-term consequences of early CSA and the factors contributing to resilience over time.