Evaluation of Adolescents’ Perceptions of Family in Child Sexual Abuse Cases Reported to Forensic Authorities: A Qualitative Study

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the family perceptions of adolescents in cases of child sexual abuse reported to judicial authorities. Material and Methods: In this qualitative investigation, semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 15 children who were exposed to qualified sexual abuse and lived in a northern Turkish city. The criterion sampling method, a purposive sampling technique, was used to select study participants. Interviews were carried out until data saturation was achieved. All interviews were meticulously recorded and subsequently transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was employed to interpret the data. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist guidelines were adhered to throughout the study. Results: In the analysis of the data, three overarching categories (reflections on family relationships, sexual abuse and relationships with family, and situations in the family that are desired to change or improve) and eight sub-themes (mother, father, siblings, directly or indirectly, cognitive dimension, emotional dimension and behavioral dimension) were obtained. Conclusion: In this study, it was found that the outcomes related to family dynamics of adolescents who were victims of sexual abuse are very important for healthy mental development. In this context, early detection of negativities related to family dynamics and identification of risky families are very important.