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Living through the experience of sibling sexual abuse: parents’ perspectives

Westergren, Marcus LU orcid ; Kjellgren, Cecilia and Nygaard, Kristina (2023) In Journal of Sexual Agression 29(3). p.343-358
Abstract
Sibling sexual abuse constitutes a substantial proportion of sexual abuse committed by young people. The consequences for victims of sibling abuse have been found as extensive as the consequences of abuse from adults. Sibling sexual abuse also affects the entire family. However, little research has investigated sibling sexual abuse and its consequences from a parents’ perspective. This study examines the unique experiences of parents who faced disclosure of sibling sexual abuse. Five parents were interviewed, and the texts were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Four themes were identified: Parenting – insecurity and new parental challenges; Family – the loss of the family as a unit and the family as you knew it; The... (More)
Sibling sexual abuse constitutes a substantial proportion of sexual abuse committed by young people. The consequences for victims of sibling abuse have been found as extensive as the consequences of abuse from adults. Sibling sexual abuse also affects the entire family. However, little research has investigated sibling sexual abuse and its consequences from a parents’ perspective. This study examines the unique experiences of parents who faced disclosure of sibling sexual abuse. Five parents were interviewed, and the texts were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Four themes were identified: Parenting – insecurity and new parental challenges; Family – the loss of the family as a unit and the family as you knew it; The couple’s life – the loss of the love relationship and the fight for keeping the bond; and Adaptation – a new way forward. The findings highlight the extensive consequences for families experiencing sibling abuse and the lack of support from professionals in dealing with the crisis. Clinical implications of the findings are discussed.

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author
; and
alternative title
Föräldrars erfarenhet av sexuella syskonövergrepp i familjen
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
harmful sexual behaviour, disclosure, crisis, safety, split parenting, out of home-care
in
Journal of Sexual Agression
volume
29
issue
3
pages
15 pages
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • scopus:85164202660
ISSN
1300-2600
DOI
10.1080/13552600.2023.2225534
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
18e41f9a-39a8-409b-8f15-119da94b7753
date added to LUP
2023-09-27 15:13:37
date last changed
2024-01-09 15:46:05
@article{18e41f9a-39a8-409b-8f15-119da94b7753,
  abstract     = {{Sibling sexual abuse constitutes a substantial proportion of sexual abuse committed by young people. The consequences for victims of sibling abuse have been found as extensive as the consequences of abuse from adults. Sibling sexual abuse also affects the entire family. However, little research has investigated sibling sexual abuse and its consequences from a parents’ perspective. This study examines the unique experiences of parents who faced disclosure of sibling sexual abuse. Five parents were interviewed, and the texts were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Four themes were identified: Parenting – insecurity and new parental challenges; Family – the loss of the family as a unit and the family as you knew it; The couple’s life – the loss of the love relationship and the fight for keeping the bond; and Adaptation – a new way forward. The findings highlight the extensive consequences for families experiencing sibling abuse and the lack of support from professionals in dealing with the crisis. Clinical implications of the findings are discussed.<br/><br/>}},
  author       = {{Westergren, Marcus and Kjellgren, Cecilia and Nygaard, Kristina}},
  issn         = {{1300-2600}},
  keywords     = {{harmful sexual behaviour; disclosure; crisis; safety; split parenting; out of home-care}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{06}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{343--358}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Journal of Sexual Agression}},
  title        = {{Living through the experience of sibling sexual abuse: parents’ perspectives}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13552600.2023.2225534}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/13552600.2023.2225534}},
  volume       = {{29}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}