Extra-familial sexual abuse: perceptions of the victims’ mothers

• Main Author: De ANTONI, Clarissa
• Publication Date: 2011
• Other Authors: YUNES, Maria Angela Mattar, HABIGZANG, Luisa, KOLLER, Sílvia Helena
• Format: Article
• Language: por
• Source: Estudos de Psicologia (Campinas)
• Download full: https://periodicos.puc-campinas.edu.br/estpsi/article/view/8857
• topic: Sexual abuse; Extrafamilial sexual abuse; Beliefs; Families in risk situations; Abuso sexual; Abuso sexual extrafamiliar; Crenças; Famílias em situação de risco

Extrafamilial sexual abuse is a form of violence where children and adolescents are victimized by adults with no parental connection. Ecological analysis allows us to observe the multicausality of the phenomenon and to understand risk and buffer mechanisms in different contexts. Three mothers of girls who had suffered this type of abuse participated in this qualitative study. The instrument used was a semi-structured interview. The results point to the presence of similar aspects to those of intrafamilial abuse: syndrome of secrecy, secondary gratification, peculiarities of the interaction and organization of families. There are similar elements in the infancies of mothers and children: loss of parents; constant material deprivation and suffering through abandonment and maltreatment. The situation experienced by the daughters is perceived by their mothers as characteristics of “weakness” and “impulsivity” and they do not attribute blame to the aggressor, which increases their daughters’ vulnerability when faced with abusive situations.