Living through disclosure: a descriptive phenomenological exploration of adult survivors’ experiences of disclosing sexual assault to nurses

Abstract

Background: Sexual assault affects approximately 1 in 3 women and 1 in 18 men in the United Kingdom (UK), yet disclosure to healthcare professionals remains low. Research has focused on prevalence, barriers and outcomes; survivors’ lived experience of the disclosure encounter is under-explored. Nurses’ responses profoundly shape recovery. Aim: To explore adult survivors’ lived experiences of disclosing sexual assault to nurses in the UK. Methods: Nine adults who had disclosed sexual assault to a nurse in a UK healthcare setting were recruited and interviewed. Data were analysed using Giorgi’s descriptive phenomenological psychology method. Results: Disclosure emerged as temporally complex and emotionally overwhelming, shaped by survivors’ profound unpreparedness and pervasive uncertainty. Two themes captured this: (1) Unpreparedness, reflecting lack of readiness before, during and after disclosure and an overriding need for validation and (2) Not Knowing, capturing uncertainty across the practical, relational and emotional dimensions of disclosure. Running through both themes was survivors’ fear of not being believed, which shaped the meaning of the encounter. Conclusion: Disclosure is a temporally complex, emotionally overwhelming experience fundamentally shaped by nurses’ responses. Belief, validation and agency emerged as central to survivors’ experiences. These findings highlight the importance of trauma-informed education and survivor-centred approaches in nursing practice.