Recipients of children's and adolescents' disclosures of childhood sexual abuse: A systematic review.

Recipients of children's and adolescents' disclosures of childhood sexual abuse: A systematic review. Child Abuse Negl. 2019 Sep 26;:104192 Authors: Manay N, Collin-Vézina D Abstract Disclosure of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a complex, multifaceted process with many barriers that are largely shaped by individual, familial, and systemic characteristics. Children and youth tend to withhold or delay disclosure for many years, such that most CSA goes unreported. This systematic review aimed to synthesize evidence regarding the pathways and recipients of CSA disclosures and to identify potential developmental and gender differences in the recipients of disclosures. Thirty-seven studies conducted between 1990 and 2017 were selected for review. Results indicated that children and youth follow a gradual pattern of disclosure, whereby they first disclose to peers before disclosing to a parent or trusted adult, who can then help the child report to a person of authority. Key developmental patterns in CSA disclosure were identified, whereby older children and adolescents are significantly more likely to turn to peers, keeping the abuse largely hidden from adults. Gender differences were also found, whereby girls are more likely to seek emotional support by disclosing to peers, whereas boys are significantly less likely to disclose the abuse all together; when boys do disclose, they tend to do so for practical reasons, such as protection or...
Source: Child Abuse and Neglect - Category: Child Development Authors: Tags: Child Abuse Negl Source Type: research