title: Psychological and Physical Health of Nonoffending Parents After Disclosure of Sexual Abuse of Their Child.
abstract: Disclosure of child sexual abuse can be traumatic for nonoffending parents. Research has shown its impact on mothers' mental health, which includes heightened psychological distress, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Very little is known, however, about its impact on their physical health or on fathers' health. The self-perceived mental and physical health of nonoffending parents after child sexual abuse disclosure was compared to determine gender-related differences in this regard. Interviews were conducted with 109 mothers and 43 fathers of 6- to 13-year-old sexually abused children. Bivariate analyses revealed that a fair proportion of parents reported psychological and physical problems after disclosure. However, proportionally more mothers than fathers reported psychological distress, depression, and use of professional services. Fathers were more likely to resort to health services instead of social services and to use medication for depression. Study findings provide leads for health and social service providers for the development of intervention protocols and referral procedures sensitive to gender issues, and they shed new light on specific needs of nonoffending parents.
authors: a Département de psychologie , Université de Montréal , Montréal , Canada.
authors: Mireille
authors: M
authors: Cyr
authors: b Université de Montréal , Centre hospitalier universitaire Ste-Justine , Montréal , Canada.
authors: Jean-Yves
authors: JY
authors: Frappier
authors: c Département de sexologie , UQAM , Montréal , Canada.
authors: Martine
authors: M
authors: Hébert
authors: d Département de psychoéducation , Université de Sherbrooke , Sherbrooke , Canada.
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Tourigny
authors: a Département de psychologie , Université de Montréal , Montréal , Canada.
authors: Pierre
authors: P
authors: McDuff
authors: a Département de psychologie , Université de Montréal , Montréal , Canada.
authors: Marie-Ève
authors: MÈ
authors: Turcotte
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D014342:Truth Disclosure
keywords: child sexual abuse; disclosure; health services; mental health; nonoffending parents; physical health