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Journal Articles on Child and Ritual Abuse – Laurie Matthew
Journal Articles on Child and Ritual Abuse – Laurie Matthew
ABSTRACT
The current systematic narrative literature review sought to
discover the views of young child sexual abuse (CSA) survivors, unknown
to child protection services, on confidentiality. Due to the paucity of
research on young CSA survivors, the review was widened to include users
of sexual health services. Seventeen databases were searched, and
results were refined by reading titles and abstracts, followed by full
text. Analysis involved an exploratory interpretist approach to identify
conceptual themes and research methodologies. Fifteen published papers
were identified. Research methods were narrow and included surveys,
interviews, and focus groups, with limited youth participation. In
addition to the theme of confidentiality essential to this study, themes
identified included – needing accurate information about services, the
importance of someone non-judgemental to talk to, control over decisions
affecting their lives, and better access to services. Studies indicated
young people were fearful of child protection involvement. In
conclusion, studies suggest young survivors unknown to child protection
services need a higher level of confidential services and more control
of their information. Further research involving young survivors in
participatory methods is needed to explore issues of confidentiality,
survivor participation, and fear of child protection agencies.
Conclusion
The current review identified confidentiality as a significant issue
for young survivors unknown to child protection services. Studies
indicated that the parameters of confidentiality from services were
often ambiguous. The importance of being believed, having someone
non-judgemental, and confidential to talk to, along with time to build
trust were recurring findings. Analysis of studies suggested a mistrust
of authorities, fear of consequences,lack of information, shame,
embarrassment, and fear of losing of control, inhibited young people
from talking to child protection services. Instead, young people
preferred support and information from friends and relatives.
Methodologically, the review found that few studies asked young people’s
views on confidentiality and none involved active participation as
researchers. For those studies that did seek young people’s views,
methods used covered a narrow range of traditional approaches.
The existence of ritual abuse is the subject of much debate. Ritual
abuse survivor perceptions of seeking help have not been explored, and
studies have yet to utilize self-defined survivors as collaborative
researchers. This study addresses both issues. Participatory action
research was utilized to design a survey and semistructured interview to
investigate ritual abuse survivor experience of seeking help.
Sixty-eight participants completed the survey, and 22 were interviewed. A
group approach to thematic analysis aided validity and reliability.
Participants reported experiencing disbelief and a lack of ritual abuse
awareness and help from support services. In contrast, participatory
action research was reported by participants as educative and
emancipatory. Future research should explore the benefits of
participatory action research for survivors of different forms of
oppression.
Conclusions
The current study found survivors appeared to suffer from the
continued polarized discourse around belief, memory, and mental illness.
The researchers discovered that survivors reported low awareness of RA
issues among professionals, which in turn resulted in services being
perceived as poor. As a consequence, participants reported they were
reluctant to reveal histories of RA due to anticipated negative
reactions. The authors suggest there is a need for survivor agencies to
raise awareness of issues for RA survivors, share the experiences of
survivors, and encourage development of survivor-sensitive services. PAR
appears to be an empowering process for self-defined survivors,
resulting in new competencies, positive perceptions,and social supports
as well as the development of new life opportunities. In terms of the
process of PAR, survivor researchers were able to be critically reflect
on (a) their experiences of seeking help; (b) the action they engaged
in, such as the research process itself; and (c) the action participants
engaged in beyond the study, such as real-life change and ongoing
research. Despite these methodological challenges, PAR offers a
promising approach to achieving social change through research and
contributing to personal growth of participant researchers. Although
this study has focused on ritual abuse, future PAR research with other
survivor groups is likely to be applicable and worthwhile
Abstract
This study explores views of young child abuse survivors, whose abuse
was unknown to child protection, about confidentiality. Survivors
involved with charity Eighteen And Under (n= 185) were invited to
participate. A total of 140 participated. Eight aged 12–20, two males
and 6 females chose involvement as researchers and participants and 132
aged 11–30, 25 males, 114 females and one non-gendered chose participant
involvement. Eighty-five percent (n= 117) were survivors of child
sexual abuse and 15% (n= 23) were survivors of child abuse. Utilizing
participatory action research, researchers designed and analyzed
qualitative and quantitative data gathered through surveys, interviews,
focus groups, online-chats and graffiti walls. A social construction
thematic approach analyzed data. Interrater reliability was maximized
through independent data analysis. The results showed that participants,
particularly males and under 16 s, wanted greater protection of
confidentiality. Males were less likely to disclose sexual abuse. Two
superordinate themes were identified: (a) limited confidentiality led to
fear of loss of control and trust and (b) retractions of abuse and
higher levels of confidentiality led to talking openly, feeling
respected and believed and a sense of control and empowerment. Two
further themes were identified from young researcher reports: improved
self-esteem and positive life changes. In conclusion,young people
unknown to services want greater confidentiality than is currently
offered. Participative research was emancipatory, and further
participatory research with young CSA survivors is needed.
Conclusion
Young CSA survivors unknown to CPS wanted higher levels of
confidentiality than they currently receive from services. Further,
young people reported that lack of confidentiality was one of the
reasons they did not disclose abuse to professionals. This study
highlighted the importance of young CSA survivors building relationships
based on trust in confidentiality, being believed and having adults
available with a positive attitude who would not judge them. Staying in
control was also important to the young survivors. Current CPS in the UK
do not lend themselves to this, as prosecution is a key aim. It also
tends not to prioritise the support needs of young people and can be
harmful, while not always ending abuse. All of this, including abuse
retractions and the reluctance of young survivors to disclose abuse to
authorities, would indicate that something different is needed. Having
the opportunity to access confidential services could help meet the
needs of many young CSA survivors better and possibly lead to more
positive outcomes.
Indications are that young CSA survivors, unknown to CPS, do not trust
these systems in the UK. This perspective, coupled with survivors’
powerlessness when faced with professionals and protectionist arguments
prevents young people remaining in control or gaining any say in
decisions affecting them.
Involving young CSA survivors as researchers in research with other
young CSA survivors allowed them to address issues that had affected
them directly and brought their own expertise into the study in a way
that has not been achieved before now. Survivors conducting research led
to novel foci of research and outcomes. All young researchers reported
feeling empowered and increased self-esteem and self-confidence.
All articles posted with written permission of the author.
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