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Guardian Support of Sexually Abused Children

A Definition in Search of a Construct

Boston University

The support provided by the nonoffending guardian of a sexually abused child after disclosure is a critical consideration. Although a number of studies have assessed guardian support after disclosure, no known article has closely examined the construct of guardian support. The purpose of this article is to consider how the construct of guardian support is defined and operationalized, as well as to consider its intervening variables. This analysis found that approximately 75% of non-offending guardians are partially or fully supportive after disclosure. The four primary groups of intervening variables for guardian support appear to be grouped within immediate stressors or buffers, the child's previous abuse history, the believability of the disclosure, and the guardian's relationship with the offender. More problematic is the definition of guardian support across most studies, which is seldom grounded in theoretical literature but instead appears to be driven by the needs of the child protection system.

Key Words: child sexual abuse • guardian support • maternal support

Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, Vol. 3, No. 1, 40-67 (2002)
DOI: 10.1177/15248380020031003


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