In the aftermath of disclosing child sexual abuse: Consequences, needs, and wishes
Abstract
Experiencing child sexual abuse (CSA) can have enormous consequences for the victims. However, reporting rates are comparably low. Thus, it is essential to consider the wishes and needs of disclosing CSA victims in order to develop measures that can improve the disclosure and reporting of CSA. We analysed data of a subsample of n = 394 victims of contact CSA from a representative victim survey (N = 11,428) conducted by the Criminological Research Institute of Lower Saxony, Germany, in 2011. Overall, 76% of the victims disclosed their CSA experience to somebody. However, only 14% of the cases were made known to law enforcement agencies. Of the disclosing victims, only one-third was believed and 43% reported that the disclosure led to no further consequences. Overall, being believed as well as supported by the victims’ family proved to be crucial. Implications are discussed against the background of previous research.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
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 Stiller & Hellmann, 2017
Cites
The prevalence of child maltreatment across the globe: review of a series of meta-analyses
Stoltenborgh, M., Bakermans‐Kranenburg, M. J., Alink, L. R. A., & van IJzendoorn, M. H. (2015) · Child Abuse Review · doi:10.1002/car.2353 · Cited by 1,542 · see citing works
Fergusson, D. M., McLeod, G. F. H., & Horwood, L. J. (2013) · Child Abuse & Neglect · doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2013.03.013 · Cited by 703 · cited 1× · see citing works
“Because of the severe negative consequences of CSA on the victims (e.g. Fergusson et al., 2013; Hornor, 2010; Remschmidt, 2014; Steine et al., 2012; Whitelock et al., 2013), supportive therapy and counselling are essential for developing coping mechanisms and preventing revictimisation (e.g.…”
BackgroundThe international epidemiology of child sexual abuse: a continuation of Finkelhor (1994)
Pereda, N., Guilera, G., Forns, M., & Gómez-Benito, J. (2009) · Child Abuse & Neglect · doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2008.07.007 · Cited by 535 · see citing works
Deblinger, E., Mannarino, A. P., Cohen, J. A., Runyon, M. K., & Steer, R. A. (2011) · Depression and Anxiety · doi:10.1002/da.20744 · Cited by 443 · see citing works
Lalor, K., & McElvaney, R. (2010) · Trauma, Violence, & Abuse · doi:10.1177/1524838010378299 · Cited by 376 · see citing works
Social Reactions to Child Sexual Abuse Disclosures: A Critical Review
Ullman, S. E. (2002) · Journal of Child Sexual Abuse · doi:10.1300/j070v12n01_05 · Cited by 284 · cited 2× · see citing works
“It has been shown that parental support is associated with sexually abused children’s adjustment and future well-being (e.g. Elliott & Carnes, 2001; Feiring, Taska, & Lewis, 1998; Lovett, 2004; Marriott et al., 2014; Ullman, 2002; van Toledo & Seymour, 2013; Zajac et al., 2015).”
BackgroundAdolescents who experienced sexual abuse: fears, needs and impediments to disclosure
Crisma, M., Bascelli, E., Paci, D., & Romito, P. (2004) · Child Abuse & Neglect · doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2004.03.015 · Cited by 157 · see citing works
Marriott, C., Hamilton‐Giachritsis, C., & Harrop, C. (2014) · Child Abuse Review · doi:10.1002/car.2258 · Cited by 149 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
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
Gemara, N., Mishna, F., & Katz, C. (2025) · Child & Family Social Work · doi:10.1111/cfs.13069 · Cited by 18 · 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
- Stiller, A., & Hellmann, D. F.
- Affiliations
- Criminological Research Institute of Lower Saxony (DE)
- Osnabrück University (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Hellmann, Deborah F.
- ORCID
- Stiller, Anja
- Venue
- Journal of Sexual Aggression
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2017-05-11
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 251-265
- ISSN
- 1355-2600 (ISSN-L)
- 1742-6545
- OpenAlex
- W2613836363
- Cited by
- 29
- References
- 8
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 5 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 2.04
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Sexual Aggression (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (01SR1002)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Military, Security, and Education Studies
- Keywords
- child sexual abuse, disclosure, reporting, victim needs, family support
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
