Abuse: Disclosure


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Disclosure

Among victims of sexual abuse, the inability to trust is pronounced, which also contributes to secrecy and non-disclosure.
Source: Courtois & Watts, 1982. Web site: Presented by Pandora's Box: The Secrecy of Child Sexual Abuse ~~ Dr. Faulkner -- Sexual Abuse Statistics
Children often fail to report because of the fear that disclosure will bring consequences even worse than being victimized again. The victim may fear consequences from the family, feel guilty for consequences to the perpetrator, and may fear subsequent retaliatory actions from the perpetrator.
Sources: Berlinger & Barbieri, 1984; Groth, 1979; Swanson & Biaggio, 1985. Web site: Presented by Pandora's Box: The Secrecy of Child Sexual Abuse ~~ Dr. Faulkner -- Sexual Abuse Statistics
ChildLine is the free confidential 24 hour telephone helpline for children and young people in trouble or danger. In 1994/5, ChildLine counselled over 89,000 children - about all kinds of problems and concerns. 21% of children counselled (over 18,000) rang about physical or sexual abuse - sometimes both; 12% (more than 10,000) rang about family problems; Over 12,000 spoke about bullying. Children also rang about substance abuse, running away, bereavement, their unhappiness when their parents divorced, pregnancy, worries about sex and problems with friends or at school.
Source: Web site and source: Childline
Study of 630 cases of alleged sexual abuse of children from 1985 through 1989: Using a subset of 116 confirmed cases, findings indicated that 79 percent of the children of the study initially denied abuse or were tentative in disclosing. Of those who did disclose, approximately three-quarters disclosed accidentally. Additionally, of those who did disclose, 22 percent eventually recanted their statements.
Source: Sorensen & Snow, 1991.Web site Presented by Pandora's Box: The Secrecy of Child Sexual Abuse ~~ Dr. Faulkner -- Sexual Abuse Statistics
Victims may also have a feeling that "something is wrong with me," and that the abuse is their fault.
Sources: Johnson, 1987; Tsai & Wagner, l978.Web site Presented by Pandora's Box: The Secrecy of Child Sexual Abuse ~~ Dr. Faulkner -- Sexual Abuse Statistics
Young victims may not recognize their victimization as sexual abuse.
Source: Gilbert, l988. Web site Presented by Pandora's Box: The Secrecy of Child Sexual Abuse ~~ Dr. Faulkner -- Sexual Abuse Statistics