Disclosure among Latina and African American women with a history of childhood sexual abuse: A preliminary investigation

Cultural values may impact child sexual abuse (CSA) disclosure. Although in recent years research has directed attention to the relevance of racial/ethnic differences among survivors of CSA, there remains a dearth of studies examining this phenomenon from the perspective of CSA survivors. Using a data archive, the present qualitative study examines thematic similarities and differences between 51 African American women and 26 Latina CSA survivors as to whom they disclosed as children, what occurred as a result of the disclosure, and among women who did not disclose the abuse, reasons for nondisclosure. Opened ended questions regarding disclosure from the Wyatt Sexual History Questionnaire (Wyatt, Lawrence, Vodounon, & Mickey, 1992) were content analyzed and triangulated with information from the Non-Supportive Responses to Disclosure scale (Spaccarelli, 1995). Thematic similarities and differences emerged among Latina and African American participants in the outcome of disclosure as well as the decision whether to disclose abuse incidents. A discussion describing the CSA characteristics of the Latina and African American participants in the study relative to previous research and examining how abuse circumstances and cultural values may influence disclosure patterns is provided. Following the discussion, culturally congruent clinical recommendations when working with CSA survivors and their families are offered.