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Incest victims: inadequate help by professionals
1Netherlands Institute for Social Sexological Research, Utrecht.
Child Abuse & Neglect
|January 1, 1990
Summary
Professional assistance for incest victims is inadequate due to institutional distrust and professional skill gaps. Improvements are needed to better support survivors of child sexual abuse.
Area of Science:
- Social Sciences
- Psychology
- Victimology
Background:
- Incest victim support services often fall short of meeting survivors' needs.
- Understanding the barriers to effective professional assistance is crucial for improving care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the inadequacies in professional assistance provided to incest victims.
- To identify challenges faced by professionals and survivors in incest cases.
Main Methods:
- Two surveys were conducted, interviewing 130 professionals and 50 adult women incest survivors.
- Data collection involved interviews focusing on the quality and effectiveness of assistance.
Main Results:
- Assistance for recent young victims is hindered by institutional distrust and difficulty in stopping ongoing abuse.
- Professionals assisting adult survivors face challenges related to knowledge, skills, and emotional resistance.
- Adult survivors often consult multiple professionals over extended periods.
Conclusions:
- Significant improvements are necessary in the training and support of professionals assisting incest victims.
- Addressing systemic issues and enhancing professional competencies are key to better supporting survivors.