mothers' reactions to disclosures of sibling sexual abuse PDF
Preview mothers' reactions to disclosures of sibling sexual abuse
MOTHERS’ REACTIONS TO DISCLOSURES OF SIBLING SEXUAL ABUSE by CAMILLE TULI`A LAFLEUR B.A., University of Kansas, 1999 M.S., Oklahoma Baptist University, 2003 AN ABSTRACT OF A DISSERTATION submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department of Family Studies and Human Services College of Human Ecology KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY Manhattan, Kansas 2009 Abstract This qualitative research study explored how mothers reacted to sibling sexual abuse disclosures while investigating the treatment and supportive services they engaged in to help them cope with this family trauma. Previous research focused on the role mothers played in intrafamilial sexual abuse cases, indicating that mothers were collusive and aware that the sexual abuse was occurring and did not intervene or protect their daughters. This research study’s purpose was to begin the foundational process of filling the gap in the literature concerning mothers and sibling sexual abuse disclosures. Qualitative data from the interviews conducted with mothers of sibling sexual abuse cases were utilized for this study. Participants were asked to reflect upon their early childhood experiences, characteristics of relationships in their families, how they handled the sibling sexual abuse disclosure, their level of functioning after the abuse disclosures, and any treatment strategies utilized, as well as their perceived effectiveness. The study shared the lived experiences of mothers who had sibling sexual abuse disclosures occur within their immediate families. The results revealed that the participants’ immediate reactions were not indicative of the action they took, following the disclosure, to protect their daughters from further abuse. Also indicated was a connection between mothers’ ability to cope with the abuse disclosure over time and their daughters’, the victims’, ability to make progressive steps towards improved functioning, following the abuse disclosure. This research can assist clinicians in understanding the importance of the therapeutic relationship and being sensitive to the delicate role mothers of perpetrators and victims have to play in these cases. In addition, clinicians must assist these mothers in transitioning through their numerous emotions, in order to return to a functional level of interaction in their lives. MOTHERS’ REACTIONS TO DISCLOSURES OF SIBLING SEXUAL ABUSE by CAMILLE TULI`A LAFLEUR B.A., University of Kansas, 1999 M.S., Oklahoma Baptist University, 2003 A DISSERTATION submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department of Family Studies and Human Services College of Human Ecology KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY Manhattan, Kansas 2009 Approved by: Major Professor Anthony P. Jurich, Ph.D. Copyright CAMILLE LAFLEUR 2009 Abstract This qualitative research study explored how mothers reacted to sibling sexual abuse disclosures while investigating the treatment and supportive services they engaged in to help them cope with this family trauma. Previous research focused on the role mothers played in intrafamilial sexual abuse cases, indicating that mothers were collusive and aware that the sexual abuse was occurring and did not intervene or protect their daughters. This research study’s purpose was to begin the foundational process of filling the gap in the literature concerning mothers and sibling sexual abuse disclosures. Qualitative data from the interviews conducted with mothers of sibling sexual abuse cases were utilized for this study. Participants were asked to reflect upon their early childhood experiences, characteristics of relationships in their families, how they handled the sibling sexual abuse disclosure, their level of functioning after the abuse disclosures, and any treatment strategies utilized, as well as their perceived effectiveness. The study shared the lived experiences of mothers who had sibling sexual abuse disclosures occur within their immediate families. The results revealed that the participants’ immediate reactions were not indicative of the action they took, following the disclosure, to protect their daughters from further abuse. Also indicated was a connection between mothers’ ability to cope with the abuse disclosure over time and their daughters’, the victims’, ability to make progressive steps towards improved functioning, following the abuse disclosure. This research can assist clinicians in understanding the importance of the therapeutic relationship and being sensitive to the delicate role mothers of perpetrators and victims have to play in these cases. In addition, clinicians must assist these mothers in transitioning through their numerous emotions, in order to return to a functional level of interaction in their lives. Table of Contents List of Figures.................................................................................................................................x Acknowledgements........................................................................................................................xi CHAPTER 1 - Introduction............................................................................................................1 Defining Intrafamilial Sexual Abuse......................................................................................2 Multiple Systems Model.........................................................................................................3 Vulnerability Factors..........................................................................................................3 Precipitating Events and Coping Mechanisms...................................................................9 Purpose..................................................................................................................................11 Research Questions...............................................................................................................12 Glossary of Terms.................................................................................................................13 Organizational Overview......................................................................................................14 CHAPTER 2 - Literature Review.................................................................................................15 Sexual Abuse Effects............................................................................................................19 Intrafamilial Sexual Abuse...................................................................................................22 Negative Consequences of Intrafamilial Sexual Abuse....................................................23 Family Characteristics and Effects...................................................................................24 Sibling Sexual Abuse............................................................................................................26 Family Dynamics..............................................................................................................26 Frameworks Dealing with Intrafamilial Sexual Abuse.........................................................29 Feminist Perspective.........................................................................................................29 Family Systems Model.....................................................................................................30 Boundaries........................................................................................................32 Mothers.................................................................................................................................33 Characteristics of Collusion..............................................................................................34 The Role of the Mother in Sibling Sexual Abuse Cases.......................................................38 Personality Characteristics....................................................................................................40 Disclosures of Sexual Abuse................................................................................................42 Cognitive and Emotional Responses....................................................................................43 vi Internal and External Responses...........................................................................................45 Belief, Disbelief and Protective, Non-Protective..................................................................46 Culture...................................................................................................................................50 Symptom Distress.................................................................................................................53 Trauma..................................................................................................................................53 Grief Cycle............................................................................................................................55 Coping...................................................................................................................................55 Treatment..............................................................................................................................57 CHAPTER 3 - Methodology........................................................................................................63 Framework for Mothers’ Experiences..................................................................................63 Research Design....................................................................................................................65 Selection of Participants.......................................................................................................68 Description of Sample.......................................................................................................68 Data Collection.....................................................................................................................70 Interview Procedure..........................................................................................................70 Data Analysis........................................................................................................................70 Trustworthiness.....................................................................................................................72 Credibility of the Researcher................................................................................................73 Member Checking.................................................................................................................74 Summary...............................................................................................................................74 CHAPTER 4 - Results..................................................................................................................75 Review of Research Questions.............................................................................................75 Participant Population...........................................................................................................75 Participants’ Stories..........................................................................................................76 Early Childhood Experiences...............................................................................................78 Characteristics of Mothers’ and Their Relationships............................................................80 Mother-Child Relationship Prior to Disclosure................................................................83 Father-Child Relationship Prior to Disclosure..................................................................84 Sibling Relationship Prior to Disclosure...........................................................................87 Reactions to Sibling Sexual Abuse Disclosures...................................................................87 Feelings Experienced following Disclosure.....................................................................88 vii Reactions to Disclosures...................................................................................................91 Thoughts during Crisis......................................................................................................92 Familial Reaction to Disclosure of Abuse........................................................................94 Level of Functioning following Disclosure..........................................................................95 Relationship with their Children.......................................................................................95 Current View of Self.........................................................................................................97 View of Self Now vs. Before and at Disclosure...............................................................98 Treatment..............................................................................................................................99 Support System...............................................................................................................102 General Impact....................................................................................................................104 Law Enforcement............................................................................................................104 Maternal Sexual Abuse History.....................................................................................105 Escape.............................................................................................................................106 CHAPTER 5 - Discussion..........................................................................................................108 Findings and Interpretations...............................................................................................108 Early Childhood Experiences.............................................................................................109 Characteristics of Mothers and Their Relationships...........................................................110 Mothers’ Reactions to Disclosures.....................................................................................114 Mothers’ Level of Functioning Following Disclosure........................................................117 Treatment Strategies...........................................................................................................121 General Impact....................................................................................................................124 Limitations..........................................................................................................................125 Suggestions for Future Research........................................................................................126 Implications for Clinical Practice.......................................................................................129 Conclusion..........................................................................................................................136 References...................................................................................................................................138 Appendix A - Recruitment Letter...............................................................................................145 Appendix B - Research Flyer......................................................................................................147 Appendix C - Informed Consent Form.......................................................................................148 Kansas State University – Informed Consent.........................................................................148 Mothers’ Reactions to Disclosures of Sibling Sexual Abuse.............................................148 viii Appendix D - Debriefing Statement...........................................................................................150 Appendix E - Interview Guide....................................................................................................151 ix List of Figures Figure 1.1 Vulnerability to Incest Model (Trepper & Barrett, 1989)............................................5 Figure 3.1 Model of Mothers’ Experience Following the Disclosure of Sexual Abuse...............66 x
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