The Psychosocial Affects of Incest on the Survnor Children and Their Non-Offending Parents: An Analysis of Four Families
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2004-06
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study attempts to examine the psychosocial effects of incest on the sulVivor children
and their non-<Jffending parents. Data were collected from four incest survivor children and their
non-<Jffending parents residing in Addis Ababa. In-4epth interview were held with all the
respondents using interview guide. Then the data were analyzed qualitatively- case-by.~ase.
The data collected from the sUlVivor children were analyzed using the T raumagenic Models
of the Effects of Child Sexual Abuse developed by Finkelhor and Browne (1988). Initially, an
attempt is made to describe the main sources of trauma and how it caused injury on the child's
psychosocial functioning. Accordingly, early sexual engagement, pressure for secrecy/retracting
charge, shocked reaction of significant others upon disclosure, blaming children for the events,
manipulating child's trust, love and vulnerability; lack of support and/or protection of SignifICant
others upon disclosure, inability to protect oneself from abuse or halt the abuse, offenders' use of
forcelthreat are identified as the major traumatic factors in incestuous abuse. The result revealed
that these traumatic factors led sUlVivor children manifest various kinds of negative emotions.
These includes aversion to intimate relationship, promiscuity, guilt, shame, lowered self esteem,
sense of differentness, grief, depression, mistrust- particularly of men, anger, hostility, anxiety,
lowered sense of efficacy, dissociation, isolation, etc.
The non-<Jffending parents (mothers) have also passed through various psychosocial
problems. These includes shock, anger, sense of betrayal, anxiely, depression, isolation, fear of
retaliation, problems in interaction with other family members, marriage disruption which in tum
led to economic problem etc. The study could conclude that incest is a problem, which affects the
entire family.
Finally, being supportive and non-judgmental to the sUlVivor children upon disclosure,
provision of integrated psychological, financial and legal support to both the survivor children and
their non-<Jffending parents, speeding up the court process are recommended to help the direct
and indirect victims of incestuous abuse to reduce/overcome their negative emotions. Provision
of culture specifIC and age appropriate sex education to children, empowering women in all life
aspects, upgrading the knowledge of persons who works with children on identification of ongoing
sexual abuse, provision of public education program on issues of child sexual abuse are among
the factors that are recommended to prevent incest.
Description
Keywords
Children and Their Non-Offending Parents