The study describes the emotional and psychological distress experienced after learning that their child may have been sexually abused. It also discusses caregivers' attitudes about mental health services for themselves.
Existing evidence
Support from a non-offending caregiver is associated with better emotional and behavioural adjustment in sexually abused children. However, caregivers may experience a number of challenges (such as emotional, psychological, social, financial) that can make it difficult for them to support their children following the discovery of sexual abuse. Research by Kelley (1990) showed how symptoms of caregiver distress where there has been CSA were comparable in severity to those of female psychiatric outpatients and can persist up to two years after disclosure.
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