Professional responses to sibling sexual abuse

King-Hill, Sophie; Gilsenan, Abby; McCartan, Kieran

Abstract

Professional confidence and knowledge are essential in effectively responding to sibling sexual abuse (SSA). If professionals do not have knowledge of the area and confidence in their skills to deliver effective support, then there could be negative consequences for the victims.
The methods consisted of narrative interviewing of N=30 professionals and N=2 young victim/survivors. This approach was chosen as it provided a thorough and robust picture of practitioner responses to SSA.
Through thematic analysis, three dominant themes emerged across both the young person and practitioner data in relation to practitioner responses to SSA, these being minimisation, exaggeration and catastrophising.
SSA is an area in its own right with its own nuances and considerations that make it distinct other forms of sexual abuse, which means that professional responses and training needs to be re-examined to develop new, more appropriate ways of working with victims of as well as those who commit SSA.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 19, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Aug 16, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023
• Deposit Date: Jul 20, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 17, 2024
• Journal: Journal of Sexual Aggression
• Print ISSN: 1355-2600
• Electronic ISSN: 1742-6545
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 29
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 359-373
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13552600.2023.2241482
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/10965126