Parents’ experiences after learning of their child's sexual abuse
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Parents’ experiences after learning that their child has been sexually abused: an interpretative phenomenological analysis
IRAS ID
347320
Contact name
Anna Churcher Clarke
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London (UCL)
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 23 days
Research summary
This project is a study conducted as part of fulfilment for the qualification of The Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy)at University College London (UCL). This is a qualitative study aiming to explore non-offending parents' experiences after learning that their child has been sexually abused including their experiences of group support. Participants will be recruited from The Lighthouse (University College London Hospital NHS Foundation Trust), a multi-agency service providing support for children who have been sexually abused and their parents living in Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington. Parents who were in a parenting role prior to, during and after their child's disclosure of abuse and who have gone on to complete the Lighthouse support group will be invited to take part in this study. Parents will complete 1:1 interviews with the Principal Investigator either in-person or online. These interviews will be audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) (Smith et al., 2022). The researchers are particularly interested in parents' experiences of group support following the disclosure and how their gender and/or parenting role impact their experiences following their child's disclosure. Results will be written up as part of a doctorate thesis and later submitted for publication. Insights from the paper will inform how health and social care professionals and services can support families affected by childhood sexual abuse, with an emphasis on how support can meet the needs of parents. Insights may also guide policymakers and wider stakeholders to consider the provision of support for parents and carers whose children have experienced sexual abuse.
REC name
London - Bloomsbury Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/PR/0352
Date of REC Opinion
9 May 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion