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Published on: May 3, 2016
Sibling incest: reports from forty-one survivors
Bonnie E Carlson1, Katherine Maciol, Joanne Schneider
1School of Social Welfare, University of Albany, State University of New York, NY 12222, USA. carlson@albany.edu
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse
|January 4, 2007
Summary
Adult survivors of sibling incest often experienced coercive sexual acts and other forms of child abuse. Distorted beliefs about child sexual abuse were common, and disclosure during childhood was rare.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Childhood Trauma Studies
Background:
- Sibling incest is a sensitive topic within child sexual abuse (CSA) research.
- Understanding survivor experiences is crucial for developing targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the nature of childhood sexual experiences among adult survivors of sibling incest.
- To identify common patterns of abuse, associated experiences, and cognitive distortions.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective survey design utilizing interviews with a convenience sample.
- 41 adult survivors of sibling incest participated in the study.
Main Results:
- Most survivors reported vaginal or oral intercourse and coercive sexual experiences.
- Half experienced incest alongside other family sexual abuse and child abuse.
- Half exhibited distorted beliefs regarding child sexual abuse; childhood disclosure was infrequent.
Conclusions:
- Sibling incest frequently involves coercion and co-occurs with broader child abuse.
- Cognitive distortions and lack of disclosure are significant issues for survivors.
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