To Tell or To Hide? Factors Influencing Child Victims' Disclosures of Sexual Abuse

Öz

Childhood sexual abuse is a complex life experience that is the subject of great community concern and has become the focus of many legal and professional initiatives. It has been documented in various studies in the literature that child sexual abuse, which is a global public health problem, has negative and long-lasting effects on subsequent mental health and psychosocial functioning, and has devastating consequences for the lives of those exposed to this type of abuse. For this reason, the explanation of the abuse to which the child has been exposed plays a critical role in ensuring that the protection and justice system implements child protection and intervention procedures and initiates therapeutic intervention. However, children and young people often prefer to hide their sexual abuse, which causes the abuse to continue and prevents the child from accessing support systems. So, a detailed understanding of the obstacles and facilitators in the way of explanation is of great importance for professionals and researchers working in the field. This literature review focuses on information, theoretical approaches and research findings aimed at explaining the sexual abuse suffered by children. In addition, practical implications and recommendations for experts and researchers working in the field are presented in the study.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• child sexual abuse
• disclosure
• obstacles
• facilitators

Söylemek Mi Gizlemek Mi? Çocuk Mağdurların Cinsel İstismarı Açıklamalarını Etkileyen Faktörler

Öz

Çocuklukta cinsel istismar, büyük bir topluluk endişesi konusu olan ve birçok yasal ve profesyonel girişimin odağı haline gelen karmaşık bir yaşam deneyimidir. Küresel bir halk sağlığı sorunu olan çocuk cinsel istismarının, sonraki ruh sağlığı ve psikososyal işleyiş üzerinde olumsuz ve uzun süreli etkileri olduğu ve bu istismar türüne maruz kalanların yaşamları için yıkıcı sonuçları bulunduğu literatürde çeşitli çalışmalarda belgelenmiştir. Bu nedenle çocuğun maruz kaldığı istismarı açıklaması; koruma ve adalet sisteminin çocuk koruma ve müdahale prosedürlerini uygulamasını sağlamak ve terapötik müdahaleyi başlatmak üzere kritik bir rol oynamaktadır. Ancak çocuklar ve gençler maruz kaldıkları cinsel istismarı çoğunlukla gizlemeyi tercih eder, bu da istismarın devam etmesine neden olur ve çocuğun destek sistemlerine erişimini engeller. Bu sebeple açıklamanın önündeki engellerin ve kolaylaştırıcıların ayrıntılı bir şekilde anlaşılması, alanda çalışan profesyoneller ve araştırmacılar için büyük önem taşımaktadır. Bu literatür incelemesi çocukların maruz kaldığı cinsel istismarı açıklamalarına yönelik bilgilere, kuramsal yaklaşımlara ve araştırma bulgularına odaklanmaktadır. Ayrıca çalışmada alanda çalışan uzmanlar ve araştırmacılar için pratik çıkarımlar ve öneriler sunulmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Çocuk cinsel istismarı
• açıklama
• engeller
• kolaylaştırıcılar

Kaynakça

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