Citation

Geanellos R. Int. J. Ment. Health Nurs. 2003; 12(3): 186-193.

Affiliation

University of Western Sydney, School of Nursing, Family & Community Health, Penrith South DC, New South, Wales, Australia. r.geanellos@uws.edu.au

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Australian College of Mental Health Nurses Inc., Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

17393645

Abstract

A large volume of literature exists on childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and nursing literature on this topic continues to develop. However, discussion of boundaries in relation to intrafamilial childhood sexual abuse (ICSA) and to its significance in terms of personal space boundary (PSB) violation, is lacking. This is important, as PSB violation creates difficulties for adult survivors of ICSA and for nurses who care for these people as clients. As all experiences of CSA cannot be addressed, discussion focuses on women who are clients of mental health services and who have experienced ICSA. Using Scott's work on boundaries and her diagrammatic conceptualization of PSBs, links are created between ICSA boundary violation, resultant PSB regulation difficulties and principles to guide nursing practice. Discussion centres on understanding the need for PSB restoration in women-client survivors of ICSA.

Language: en