| Child sexual abuse is a significant problem in the United States. It can have deleterious effects on the children who are victims, the non-offending parent and on family functioning---possibly threatening the intact survival of the family unit. The non-offending parent who independently finds or is provided with support is better able to establish and maintain an environment in which healing for the child, the parent and the family unit can occur. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the experience of support of the non-offending parent following the discovery of the sexual abuse of their child(ren) in an attempt to widen the knowledge base of what is known about the experience.A descriptive study from the phenomenological perspective was chosen to explore the support experiences of non-offending parents of child sexual abuse victims because it provides access to the human experience and can afford the opportunity to embrace multiple realities of an experience. Using in-depth interviews, data were collected from six female volunteers who identified themselves as non-offending parents of child sexual abuse victims. Using a qualitative analysis software program, NVIVO, data were analyzed by coding the information from the interviews into similar nodes and then combining these statements into two themes: (a) timing and (b) sources of support. Subthemes of timing included isolation, blame and self blame, sharing with others, seeking and gaining support, meaning making and resolution. Sources of support came from a wide variety of venues: family and friends, community groups, the school system, professional assistance (psychological counseling, child abuse centers), support groups, the police department and members of the judicial system. The results of this study suggest that support for the non-offending parent can be instrumental in the parent's efforts to keep the family intact and support a healthy resolution to the crisis. Appropriate provision of support can assist non-offending parents to find meaning in their experiences and can lead toward individual empowerment, the ability to reflect on the social condition of one's experience and to change them accordingly. The empowered non-offending parent can reach out to others on the journey toward healing. |
