Citation

Cahalane H, Parker G, Duff S. J. Child Sex. Abus. 2013; 22(6): 720-741.

Affiliation

a Mersey Care NHS Trust , Liverpool , United Kingdom.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10538712.2013.811138

PMID

23924179

Abstract

There is a dearth of current empirical research exploring the experiences of nonoffending partners, or women whose partners have perpetrated child sexual abuse. Existing literature is dated and focuses disproportionately on intrafamilial abuse. This research explores how nonoffending partners construct and understand their experiences using thematic analysis within a social constructionist framework. Findings indicate that discovery of a partner's sexual offending is a profoundly distressing experience. It can inhibit a woman's ability to process the broader implications of her partner's behavior, including issues of risk, the impact on the victim, and the additional protective responsibilities she must adopt in the future. Implications for future research and clinical practice are discussed.

Language: en