Edith Cowan University Research Online Theses: Doctorates and Masters Theses 2017 The lived experience of non-offending mothers in cases of intrafamilial child sexual abuse: Towards a preliminary model of loss, trauma and recovery Amanda Jean Thompson Edith Cowan University Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses Part of the Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence Commons, and the Psychology Commons Recommended Citation Thompson, A. J. (2017). The lived experience of non-offending mothers in cases of intrafamilial child sexual abuse: Towards a preliminary model of loss, trauma and recovery. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/ 1972 This Thesis is posted at Research Online. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1972 Edith Cowan University Copyright Warning You may print or download ONE copy of this document for the purpose of your own research or study. 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Higher penalties may apply, and higher damages may be awarded, for offences and infringements involving the conversion of material into digital or electronic form. The Lived Experience of Non-Offending Mothers in Cases of Intrafamilial Child Sexual Abuse: Towards a Preliminary Model of Loss, Trauma and Recovery This thesis is presented for the degree of Doctor of Psychology (Forensic) Amanda Jean Thompson Edith Cowan University School of Arts and Humanities 2017 USE OF THESIS The Use of Thesis statement is not included in this version of the thesis. ABSTRACT The non-offending mother in cases of intrafamilial child sexual abuse has received limited empirical attention in comparative to the considerable body of literature examining victims and perpetrators of child sexual abuse. There is growing evidence that demonstrates that non- offending mothers’ experience significant loss and trauma following the discovery of their children’s sexual victimisation by a family member, particularly where the perpetrators are their partners. An understanding of the non-offending mother’s experience is crucial to guiding statutory agencies and therapeutic interventions when working with these families. However, there is currently not a model or framework that conceptualises mothers’ post-discovery experience, and the factors that might impede or facilitate their recovery. The aim with the present study was to address the gap in the existing literature, by conducting an exploratory investigation of the lived experience of non-offending mothers in order to generate a preliminary model outlining their recovery journey in the aftermath of discovery, drawing from existing theories of loss and trauma. The present study comprises two stages; in the first stage, qualitative interviews were conducted with a sample of eleven mothers. Data derived from the interviews were analysed using qualitative thematic analysis, from which a preliminary model was generated. The model proposed the non-offending mother’s recovery journey comprises three primary phases; the Acute Phase (Discovery and Destabilisation), the Transition Phase (Loss and Disempowerment), and the Transformative Phase (Taking Control and Accommodation). The preliminary model identified unique aspects of the maternal experience not sufficiently accounted for by many of the existing theoretical conceptualisations. The second stage of the study utilised a Delphi methodology to seek feedback on the proposed model from a panel of 18 key experts in the field of intrafamilial child sexual abuse. The input from the Delphi panel was utilised to further refine and validate the preliminary model. The panel confirmed the preliminary model provided a valid representation of the non-offending mother’s post-discovery experience with minor alterations. The findings of the present study are an important progression towards developing a more comprehensive and unified conceptualisation of the experiences of the non-offending mother in the aftermath of discovery. This in turn has important implications for the intervening professionals from both statutory and therapeutic orientations who work with this population. iii DECLARATION I certify that this thesis does not, to the best of my knowledge and belief: i. incorporate without acknowledgment any material previously submitted for a degree or diploma in ii. any institution of higher education; iii. contain any material previously published or written by another person except where due reference is made in the text of this thesis; or contain any defamatory material Signature Date: 15th May 2017 iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would firstly like to express my deep gratitude to the eleven women who took part in this research, without whom this project would not have been possible. Your frankness, willingness and courage with which you shared your stories of survival, served as a continued source of inspiration to write this thesis and ensure your voices were heard. I also extend my thanks to the professionals who took the time to provide their invaluable feedback, and reminded me of the importance of this topic. I would also like to thank my supervisors Alfred Allan and Ricks Allan for their thoughtful guidance, support and endless patience throughout this process. Thank you for never giving up on me. And finally, to my family, friends and colleagues, thank you for your continued understanding and support as I completed my “paperwork”. Sorry it took so long. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Use of Thesis ii Abstract iii Declaration iv Acknowledgements v Table of Contents vi List of Tables ix List of Figures x CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1 Structure of the Thesis 5 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 7 Non-Offending Mothers: The Historical Context 7 Early Theoretical Formulations of Incest 8 Empirical Findings on the Non-Offending Mother 10 Maternal Childhood History 10 Maternal Personality Functioning 12 The Maternal Response: Belief, Support and Protective Ability 13 Factors relating to belief, support and protection 16 Ambivalence 21 Traumagenic Symptomatology 22 Factors influencing post-disclosure response 23 The Process of Discovery 24 Impact of Discovery: The Qualitative Findings 26 Shock and disbelief 26 Anger 26 Betrayal and distrust 27 Fear and uncertainty 27 Grief and loss 27 Guilt and shame 28 The maternal identity 29 Tangible impact 29 Contextual Factors Impacting on Maternal Response 30 Culture 30 Social support 30 Systemic intervention 31 Interventions for Non-Offending Caregivers 34 Theoretical Conceptualisations of Trauma, Recovery and Growth 36 Theories of Grief and Loss 37 Theories of Trauma 39 Stress response theory 39 Assumptive worldview theory 40 Trauma and disempowerment 43 Post-traumatic growth 44 Secondary traumatisation 46 CHAPTER 3: STAGE ONE METHOD 49 Research Design 49 vi Participants 50 Materials 51 Demographic Questionnaire 51 Interview 51 Procedure 52 Data Analysis 54 CHAPTER 4: STAGE ONE FINDINGS AND INTERPRETATION 55 Demographic Data 55 Qualitative Findings 59 Discovery 60 Source 61 Emergent awareness 62 Factors inhibiting awareness 63 Destabilisation 66 Shock 66 Belief 67 Protection 70 Seeking help 71 Anger 72 Betrayal 73 Uncertainty 73 Retraumatisation 74 Avoidance 74 Loss 76 Hopelessness 76 Tangible losses 77 Relationships 78 Trust 83 Ambivalence 84 Disempowerment 87 Seeking understanding 87 Sense of agency 87 Helplessness 88 Self-blame 89 Self-worth 90 Self-doubt 91 Contextual response 92 Taking Control 96 Reconstructing identity and worth 96 Assertiveness 97 Reappraisal 97 Acceptance 98 Autonomy 100 Self-regulation 100 Active coping 101 Reinstating normality 101 Support 102 Resolution 104 Integration 104 Perspective 105 vii Growth 106 Meaning 108 Connectivity 109 Ongoing recovery 111 CHAPTER 5: STAGE ONE DISCUSSION 112 A Preliminary Model of Maternal Experience 112 The Acute Phase 113 Discovery 113 Destabilisation 114 The Transition Phase 117 Loss 117 Disempowerment 119 The Transformative Phase 120 Taking control 121 Resolution 122 Summary 124 CHAPTER 6: STAGE TWO 125 Method 125 Design 125 Participants 126 Procedure 127 First Delphi round 127 Second Delphi round 127 Results 128 Round One Panel Feedback Regarding the Preliminary Model 128 General feedback 129 Acute phase 130 Transition phase 133 Transformative phase 136 Round Two Panel Feedback Regarding the Preliminary Model 137 Discussion 141 CHAPTER 7: FINAL CONCLUSIONS 150 Implications 150 Clinical Implications 151 Implications for Statutory Agencies 153 Limitations 155 Directions for Future Research 157 REFERENCES 159 APPENDICES 178 viii LIST OF TABLES Table 1 Perpetrator’s Relationship to Participant 55 Table 2 Perpetrator’s Relationship to Victim 56 Table 3 Reporting of the Sexual Abuse Disclosure 58 Table 4 Overview of Main Categories, Themes and Sub-Themes 59 Table 5 General Round One Panel Feedback