Recent visiting scholar to CRFR, Dr. Ramona Alaggia, Associate Professor from University of Toronto and Factor-Inwentash Chair in Children’s Mental Health contributes this second guest blog on the issue of disclosure in child sexual abuse cases.
"The recent exposure of several high profile cases involving historic sexual abuse continues to bring to light the prevalence of sexual violence against children, a longstanding phenomenon which has been minimized, obscured and even covered up . This is evidenced by recent revelations in the UK of Jimmy Saville’s sexual offending against children (BBC, October 2012); the criminal conviction of football coach Jerry Sandusky in the US, and sanctions levied at Penn State University for head coach Joseph Paterno’s role in concealing these sexual crimes ; and in Canada the conviction of Graham James, a minor hockey league coach, in sexually abusing young players for decades. These and other emerging cases represent long term institutional abuse but a concerning number of children are also abused within families, and in their communities by trusted people in family-like roles (Finkelhor, Hammer & Sedlak, 2008). The sad fact is that most victims of child sexual abuse – scientific studies consistently cite up to 80% - do not disclose until they are adults if ever (McElvaney, Greene & Hogan, 2012; Schaeffer, Leventhal & Asnes, 2011).
Sound research tells us that there are many reasons for children not being able to disclose. Fear of their family falling apart. Fear of being blamed and not believed. Fear of the perpetrator. Not knowing how to tell or who to tell (McElvaney, Greene & Hogan, 2012). Certain family dynamics inhibit disclosure. A rigid patriarchal family structure; the presence of domestic violence; and dysfunctional communication have all been noted as creating difficult conditions under which to tell (Alaggia & Kirshenbaum, 2005). Environmental factors also contribute to lack of disclosure. The linking of aggression and violence in media, and advertising that sexualizes children cause confusion for children about healthy sexual behaviour. Not seeing children as persons in their own right with human rights. Minimizing that boys can also be victims of sexual violence (Alaggia & Millington, 2008). On the other hand facilitators of disclosure include open, clear communication in families, children being asked about sexual abuse, prevention and early sexual education programs to increase children’s abilities to know how to tell and who to tell (McElvaney, Greene & Hogan, 2012; Scheffer, Leventhal & Asnes, 2011). Though it’s difficult to determine who children tell it is becoming clearer that they more often disclose to peers, an adult they feel close to, and more increasingly school personnel.
Yet current prevention programs focus almost solely on the child. Adults and professionals who are in close contact with children need to equally be the target of awareness and response programs. Adults should be the target of universal sexual abuse prevention and detection programs with training on how they could respond appropriately and sensitively to disclosures –keeping in mind disclosure of sexual abuse is complex, non-linear, tenuous, sometimes non-verbal and often indirect depending on the child’s developmental stage and proximity to the perpetrator (Alaggia, 2004; Alaggia, 2010). Finally contextual considerations should be addressed to promote positive, healthy sexual messages and images."
References:
Finkelhor, D., Hammer, H., & Sedlak, A. (2008). Sexually assaulted children: National estimates and characteristics. Office of Justice Programs, U.S Department of Justice; Washington, USA.
McElvaney R., Greene S., & Hogan D. (2012): Containing the secret of child sexual abuse. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, (6):1155-75.
Schaeffer, P., Leventhal, J., & Asnes, A.J. (2011).Children’s disclosures of sexual abuse: Learning from direct inquiry. Child Abuse & Neglect, 35:343–352.
McElvaney R., Greene S., & Hogan D. (2012): Containing the secret of child sexual abuse. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, (6):1155-75.
Alaggia, R. & Kirshenbaum, S. (2005). Speaking the unspeakable: Exploring the impact of family dynamics on child sexual abuse disclosures. Families in Society, 86(2), 227-234.
Alaggia, R. & Millington, G. (2008). Male Child Sexual Abuse: A Phenomenology of Betrayal. Clinical Journal of Social Work, 36(3), 265-275.
McElvaney R., Greene S., & Hogan D. (2012): Containing the secret of child sexual abuse. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, (6):1155-75.
Schaeffer, P., Leventhal, J., & Asnes, A.J. (2011).Children’s disclosures of sexual abuse: Learning from direct inquiry. Child Abuse & Neglect, 35:343–352.
Alaggia, R. (2004). Many ways of telling: Expanding conceptualization of child sexual abuse disclosure. Child Abuse & Neglect: An International Journal, 28(11), 1213-1227.
Alaggia, R. (2010). An Ecological Analysis of Child Sexual Abuse Disclosure: Considerations for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, (19)1, 32-39.
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