The experience of non-offending caregivers following the disclosure of child sexual abuse: understanding the aftermath

Abstract

Non-offending caregivers play a critical role in mediating the child survivor’s recovery from child sexual abuse. Despite this, little has been documented about their experiences in the South African context. This exploratory qualitative study investigates the experiences of 10 caregivers following the disclosure of sexual abuse of a child under their care. Thematic analysis of the data revealed that caregivers experienced multiple forms of emotional, psychological, and situational difficulties following the disclosure of child sexual abuse. Five core themes were identified: distress, concern for the child, alienation, coping style, and grief. The findings suggest that not only do caregivers experience vicarious traumatisation but also that caregiver distress impacted their parenting abilities.