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Adolescent Perspectives on Social Support Received in the Aftermath of Sexual Abuse: A Qualitative Study

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Abstract

The extent and quality of social support provided to young survivors of sexual abuse (SA) have only rarely been examined. This qualitative study aimed to investigate adolescent perspectives on social support received in the aftermath of SA. A total of 26 sexually victimized adolescents (15–18 years old) participated in a qualitative face-to-face, in-depth interview that focused on perceived social support. Qualitative content analysis was conducted as per Mayring (2008) using the qualitative data analysis program ATLAS.ti. In addition, quantitative correlational analyses were conducted to identify characteristics of SA and their associations with perceived social support. Although participants perceived parental support as the most necessary type of support, they were much more satisfied with support from peers. In particular, adolescents stated that they wished they had received more emotional support from their parents in order to better cope with the abuse. About half of participants reported having received counseling, and counseling was seen as very helpful in dealing with the consequences of SA. Only a few adolescents mentioned their school as a source of support. Intra-familial abuse, younger victim age at the time of abuse, an adult perpetrator, and severe abuse were all negatively associated with satisfaction with perceived support. Our results suggest that support for young survivors of SA needs to be improved. Prevention of SA needs particular focus on improving parental reactions to SA, facilitating access to professional support, and raising teacher awareness of the importance of their role in the provision of support for sexually victimized children.

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Notes

  1. Switzerland is divided into 26 territorial divisions, which are called cantons.

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Acknowledgments

We are most grateful to the study participants who made this research possible, and we would also like to thank Noemi Landolt for assisting us with the transcription of interviews. Data collection was part of the Optimus study, which was initiated and funded by the UBS Optimus Foundation; analyses of data and writing of the article were funded by the Margrit Egnér Foundation and the Walter Häfner Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Zurich, Culmannstrasse 8, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland

    Verena Schönbucher & Ulrich Schnyder

  2. Psychiatric Services of the County of St. Gallen-North, St. Gallen, Switzerland

    Thomas Maier

  3. Department for Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Meichun Mohler-Kuo

  4. Department of Psychosomatics and Psychiatry, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Markus A. Landolt

  5. Children’s Research Center, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Markus A. Landolt

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  1. Verena Schönbucher
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  2. Thomas Maier
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  3. Meichun Mohler-Kuo
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  4. Ulrich Schnyder
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  5. Markus A. Landolt
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Correspondence to Verena Schönbucher.

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Schönbucher, V., Maier, T., Mohler-Kuo, M. et al. Adolescent Perspectives on Social Support Received in the Aftermath of Sexual Abuse: A Qualitative Study. Arch Sex Behav 43, 571–586 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-013-0230-x

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