Abstract
Disclosure of child sexual abuse is typically delayed or incomplete, or may not occur at all. Understanding the reasons for disclosure and nondisclosure is important for parents, investigators, and therapists who provide support for abused children during the disclosure process. In a study of over 600 children and teenagers presenting for medical evaluations following acute or chronic abuse, average time to disclosure was 1.5 years and longest among younger victims and those abused by their biological parent. Children were more likely to delay disclosure due to fear of their family’s reactions than fear for their personal safety. While emotional pressure was the most common single reason for disclosure, clustered reasons relating to external influences, such as a desire to protect others, were more common motivators for disclosure.
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Kellogg, N.D. (2017). “Why Didn’t You Tell?” Helping Families and Children Weather the Process Following a Sexual Abuse Disclosure. In: Teti, D. (eds) Parenting and Family Processes in Child Maltreatment and Intervention. Child Maltreatment Solutions Network. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40920-7_3
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