Sexual abuse disclosure among incarcerated female adolescents and young adults.
Child sexual abuse
Disclosure
Female offenders
Incarcerated girls
Journal
Child abuse & neglect
ISSN: 1873-7757
Titre abrégé: Child Abuse Negl
Pays: England
ID NLM: 7801702
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
06 2021
06 2021
Historique:
received:
30
07
2018
revised:
12
03
2019
accepted:
21
08
2019
pubmed:
10
9
2019
medline:
25
11
2021
entrez:
10
9
2019
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is over-represented among incarcerated girls and women. In order to inform effective methods of response, they represent a critical group for better understanding disclosure processes. The purpose of the current study was to assess the CSA and CSA disclosure experiences of incarcerated female adolescents and young adults. Participants were 94 serious female offenders, ages 15-24 (M = 18.72, SD = 1.94), incarcerated in a secure juvenile facility. In one-on-one interviews, participants answered questions about abuse characteristics, whether they had previously disclosed, to whom they had disclosed and after how long, and reasons for prior disclosure or nondisclosure. Over half of the sample (51.8%,n = 44) reported experiencing CSA. Most individuals who reported a CSA history had previously disclosed (79.5%, n = 35), with approximately equal proportions claiming to disclose within one week (40%) and after a year or years (45.8%). However, 20.5% (n = 9) claimed that our study interview was their first disclosure. Several reasons for their disclosure patterns were endorsed: Most commonly feelings of shame or embarrassment prevented disclosure (56%) and no longer wanting to keep the abuse a secret motivated disclosure (44%). Although many incarcerated girls and women share a history of CSA, our results indicate that the abuse and disclosure experiences of incarcerated females are diverse. Understanding their disclosure patterns can inform mental health services, rehabilitation, and professional interviewing strategies that may facilitate disclosure (e.g., forensic interviews, facility intake interviews).
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is over-represented among incarcerated girls and women. In order to inform effective methods of response, they represent a critical group for better understanding disclosure processes.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the current study was to assess the CSA and CSA disclosure experiences of incarcerated female adolescents and young adults.
PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING
Participants were 94 serious female offenders, ages 15-24 (M = 18.72, SD = 1.94), incarcerated in a secure juvenile facility.
METHOD
In one-on-one interviews, participants answered questions about abuse characteristics, whether they had previously disclosed, to whom they had disclosed and after how long, and reasons for prior disclosure or nondisclosure.
RESULTS
Over half of the sample (51.8%,n = 44) reported experiencing CSA. Most individuals who reported a CSA history had previously disclosed (79.5%, n = 35), with approximately equal proportions claiming to disclose within one week (40%) and after a year or years (45.8%). However, 20.5% (n = 9) claimed that our study interview was their first disclosure. Several reasons for their disclosure patterns were endorsed: Most commonly feelings of shame or embarrassment prevented disclosure (56%) and no longer wanting to keep the abuse a secret motivated disclosure (44%).
CONCLUSIONS
Although many incarcerated girls and women share a history of CSA, our results indicate that the abuse and disclosure experiences of incarcerated females are diverse. Understanding their disclosure patterns can inform mental health services, rehabilitation, and professional interviewing strategies that may facilitate disclosure (e.g., forensic interviews, facility intake interviews).
Identifiants
pubmed: 31495522
pii: S0145-2134(19)30324-2
doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.104147
pmc: PMC7056491
mid: NIHMS1539293
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
104147Subventions
Organisme : NIMH NIH HHS
ID : K01 MH001791
Pays : United States
Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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