Perceived life changes for children and adolescents following disclosure of father-daughter incest.

Abstract

Eleven families comprised the sample for this qualitative study. The daughters in these families had allegedly been abused by a father or father-figure. The study showed four major life changes occurred for these girls. They were loss of father, placement away from home, alteration in familial roles, and participation in the investigation of sexual abuse. These interventions required to stop the abuse were viewed as further traumatizations. Implications of the study for child and adolescent psychiatric nursing practice are discussed.