Childhood disclosure of sexual abuse: Necessary but not necessarily sufficient
Abstract
Prevention programs often encourage sexually abused children to disclose without fully considering the potential for adverse consequences. This study examined the impact of disclosure on abuse cessation and later adult symptomatology. A clinical sample of 301 adult survivors completed the Impact of Event Scale (IES/IES-R), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II). Participants were divided into 3 groups: Nondisclosure (n=221), Disclosure/Abuse Ended (n=25), and Disclosure/Abuse Continued (n=55). Multivariate analyses of covariance, adjusting for abuse characteristics (age of onset, penetration, and number of perpetrators) and other trauma exposure, revealed significant differences in psychiatric symptom severity among the three groups, Wilks' λ=0. 95, F (6, 584)=2.69, p=0.014, η p2=0.03. Specifically, those in the Disclosure/Abuse Continued group scored significantly higher on the IES/IES-R Intrusion subscale (p=0.04) and the BDI-II (p=0.01), as compared to the Nondisclosure group. The Disclosure/Abuse Ended group did not differ significantly from the other groups. Results suggest that disclosure may be detrimental unless adequate steps are taken to ensure abuse cessation and appropriate treatment.
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Close to seventy percent of participants in one study (Swingle et al., 2016) who disclosed CSA at the time of the abuse reported that their abuse continued.
“Close to seventy percent of participants in one study (Swingle et al., 2016) who disclosed CSA at the time of the abuse reported that their abuse continued.”
From Recall of sexual abuse prevention education at school and home: Associations with sexual abuse experience, disclosure, protective parenting, and knowledge (2022) · cites this paper as Swingle et al., 2016
Recent research with CSA survivors suggests that CSA disclosures do not necessarily result in the termination of ongoing abuse (Stiller & Hellmann, 2017; Swingle et al., 2016).
“Although it is thought that CSA disclosures will result in the termination of ongoing abuse, therefore lessening its duration and impact, recent research with CSA survivors suggests otherwise (Stiller & Hellmann, 2017; Swingle et al., 2016).”
From Recall of sexual abuse prevention education at school and home: Associations with sexual abuse experience, disclosure, protective parenting, and knowledge (2022) · cites this paper as Swingle et al., 2016
Over half of the disclosures resulted in negative or indifferent reactions, especially for disclosures to parents.
“Over half of the disclosures resulted in negative or indifferent reactions, especially for disclosures to parents.”
From Recall of sexual abuse prevention education at school and home: Associations with sexual abuse experience, disclosure, protective parenting, and knowledge (2022) · cites this paper as Swingle et al., 2016
Ongoing, post-disclosure CSA resulted in more psychological symptoms in adulthood for participants who disclosed compared to those who had not disclosed.
“Ongoing, post-disclosure CSA resulted in more psychological symptoms in adulthood for participants who disclosed compared to those who had not disclosed.”
From Recall of sexual abuse prevention education at school and home: Associations with sexual abuse experience, disclosure, protective parenting, and knowledge (2022) · cites this paper as Swingle et al., 2016
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Required sample size to detect the mediated effect
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Easton, S. D. (2019) · Child Abuse & Neglect · doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.04.005 · Cited by 59 · see citing works
Rudolph, J. I., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., & Walsh, K. (2022) · Child Abuse & Neglect · doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105680 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Factors related to delayed disclosure among victims of child sexual abuse in Singapore
Hemanth, P., Fang, L., Chong, S., & Tan, L. J. (2024) · Child Abuse & Neglect · doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106647 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
- Authors
- Swingle, J. M., Tursich, M., Cleveland, J. M., Gold, S. N., Tolliver, S. F., Michaels, L., Kupperman-Caron, L. N., Garcia-Larrieu, M., & Sciarrino, N. A.
- Affiliations
- Nova Southeastern University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Gold, Steven N.
- ORCID
- Sciarrino, Nicole A.
- Venue
- Child Abuse & Neglect
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2016-12
- Volume
- 62
- Pages
- 10-18
- ISSN
- 0145-2134 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2534042782
- Cited by
- 43
- References
- 9
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 3.57
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Child Abuse & Neglect (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- NSUWorks (Nova Southeastern University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Military, Security, and Education Studies
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
- Keywords
- child sexual abuse, disclosure of abuse, non-disclosure, adult survivors, psychiatric symptom severity, intrusion symptoms, depression, trauma exposure, prevention programs
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adolescent, Adult, Child, Child Abuse, Child Abuse, Sexual, Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Psychometrics, Surveys and Questionnaires, Self Disclosure, Disclosure, Adult Survivors of Child Abuse, Young Adult
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