Exploring social support for survivors of child Sexual abuse in Slovakia and Lithuania

Abstract

Child Sexual Abuse is a common and grave issue threatening the wellbeing and safety of children and youth. Childhood sexual abuse survivors are children who experienced sexual acts perpetrated against them. Their development, their relationships, their lives had all been seriously impacted by these traumatic experiences. The effects of the abuse go beyond the immediate aftermath and affect survivors’ capacity to have healthy relationships and to trust. Considering these challenges, it was important to gain knowledge of the enabling social support networks that could aid recovery for the survivors and help to prevent future harm. This qualitative study focused on the providers, needs and the perceived expressions from social support recipients among child sexual abuse survivors. Qualitative interviews were held with nine young adult survivors of CSA in childhood (under ages 18). They were aged between 18 and 35 at the time of the study and resided in Slovakia and Lithuania. Respondents were conveniently sampled, and data were thematically analysed according to Braun and Clarke (2006), using the qualitative analysis software MAXQDA. The results showed that survivors accessed social support from romantic partners, family members, peers, social workers and support groups. Six key themes emerged: negative experiences associated with child sexual abuse, sources of social support, types of needs fulfilled by support persons, behaviours rated supportive, non-human resources that support survivors in recovery, and recommendations for other victims of CSA. It highlighted that emotional support was the most common need fulfilled by support persons, with friends and romantic partners being the most frequently mentioned sources of support. Many participants expressed a desire for more support from their parents, which they believed could have helped them better cope with the aftermath of abuse. It was surprising that some survivors reported forming stronger bonds with their mothers after disclosure, especially when their mothers had experienced similar trauma, leading to unexpected moments of healing and connection. The presence or absence of social support profoundly influenced survivors’ psychological well-being, recovery, and resilience. Survivors emphasized the importance of being believed, receiving validation, and having access to various support. Social support played a critical role in facilitating recovery from child sexual abuse. Interventions should adopt a comprehensive, systemic approach that strengthens family and community networks, and promotes trauma-informed professional care, thereby enhancing the support mechanisms available to survivors.