Disclosing sexual assault to parents: the influence of parental messages about sex.
Without frank discussion of what sex is, women may not learn what sex is not and what experiences constitute sexual assault. This qualitative study explores the relation between parental discussion and messages about sex and women's decisions of whether to disclose sexual assault to parents. Participants were 18 women from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Data were analyzed using a grounded theory approach. Findings indicate that women more often disclosed sexual assault to parents who discussed sex with them in a frank and positive manner. In addition to the role of disclosure in recovery, implications for sex and parent education are discussed.
Division of Violence Prevention, National Centr for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA.
Sharon G
SG
Smith
Sarah L
SL
Cook
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D012938:Social Perception; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035502:Trust; D014342:Truth Disclosure; D014481:United States; D016387:Women's Health