Coping and adaptation to child sexual abuse in urban Namibian families

Abstract

Summary provided by author:

A non-experimental, quantitative descriptive method was employed and a non-probability convenience sample utilized in this research study. The measures utilized were the Family Adaptation and Cohesion Evaluation Scale -Version II (FACES ll), the Family Crisis Oriented Personal Evaluation Scale (F-COPES) and the Family Support Scale (FSS). A demographic questionnaire identifying family characteristics, child variables and child sexual abuse variables was also used. A total of 63 parental figures completed the questionnaires, with 71 percent representing maternal figures and 29 percent paternal figures. Quantitative data were analyzed in terms of descriptive statistics and the results analyzed using the Pearson product-moment correlation (r) technique and the contingency coefficient (C)

The results indicated that paternal figures used more coping strategies than maternal figures, although both used support from formalized networks of social support and passive appraisal with higher frequency. Additionally, paternal figures utilized informal sources of social support more than maternal figures. Reframing was used least by both maternal and paternal figures, and maternal figures used spiritual support as a coping strategy less. The sexually abused child's age, relationship of the perpetrator to the child and the time lapsed since the abuse was not related to the overall use of parental coping strategies. However, whether or not the perpetrator was known to the family was strongly related to the use of passive appraisal. When the perpetrator was somebody known to the family, parental figures utilized passive appraisal as a coping strategy less, while when the perpetrator was unknown, both high and low levels of the utilization of passive appraisal as a coping strategy by parental figures was found. A weak positive relationship was found between time lapsed since the abuse and the use of formalized sources of support. A moderate positive relationship was found between the use of social support and family cohesion, adaptability and system type. No significant relationship was found between the sexually abused child's gender and age, the perpetrator's relationship to the child and parental use of sources of social support. Parents' level of education was related to the use of social support in general, but not to the use of professional services

In essence, this research study contributes to the growing understanding of urban Namibian families' coping and adaptation to the trauma of child sexual abuse

Key words: child sexual abuse; coping; adaptation; family; cohesion; flexibility; social support; Namibia