Secondary traumatization in parents following the disclosure of extrafamilial child sexual abuse: initial effects

Disclosure or discovery of extrafamilial sexual abuse (ESA) has the potential to traumatize the entire family system. Little controlled research has examined the initial reactions of parents to this type of trauma. The present study evaluated the adjustment of 93 parents (63 mothers and 30 fathers) within 3 months of the disclosure of ESA. Parents' functioning was compared to that of a nonclinical comparison group of 136 parents (74 mothers, 62 fathers). Parent adjustment was assessed using self-report measures of psychological distress, parent competence, family functioning, marital functioning, life stressors, and environmental support. Results revealed that mothers of sexually abused children, in comparison to mothers of nonabused children, experienced greater overall emotional distress, poorer family functioning, and lower satisfaction in their parenting role. Fathers of sexually abused children also experienced greater overall emotional distress relative to comparison fathers but their level of distress remained below that of mothers. Standard and hierarchical multiple regressions on maternal self-reports revealed that mothers' satisfaction with their parenting role and their perceived level of environmental support predicted their emotional functioning. Abuse-related variables did not contribute to the prediction of emotional functioning. These results emphasize the need to expand our focus beyond the child victims to the traumatized families and to normalize the potential for all close family members to be vulnerable to experience adjustment difficulties following ESA.