Intrafamilial Sexual Abuse: What We Think We Know About Mothers, and Implications for Intervention

ABSTRACT

Clinical paradigms about the roles of mothers in families where intrafamilial sexual abuse has occurred have shaped professional interventions negatively. More recent empirical research suggests that these mothers are diverse, that explanations of their behavior are complex and multifaceted, and that their abilities to provide support for their abused children must be assessed before appropriate, effective interventions can be chosen.

KEYWORDS:

• Intrafamilial sexual abuse
• mothers
• role
• intervention
• mother-daughter support