Strengthening parental safeguarding against intrafamilial child sexual abuse: Sexual assault counselors’ window into salient family dynamics and prevention

A substantial proportion of childhood sexual abuse occurs in family settings. Intrafamilial child sexual abuse can commence at a very early age, be long lasting and can impact a child’s entire early social system. Criminological guardianship highlights the role that individuals (capable guardians) can play in safeguarding children (deterring crime). Whilst parents are well placed to safeguard against intrafamilial child sexual abuse, the complexity of family dynamics and the privacy of domestic settings can complicate prevention efforts. Counselors working with families after intrafamilial child sexual abuse gain real-time, first-hand insights into what strengthens or hinders parental safeguarding – a viewpoint not captured by existing safeguarding research. This study sought to explore factors that Australian child sexual abuse counseling professionals believed were important to understand when strengthening parental guardianship against intrafamilial child sexual abuse. Participants were 11 social workers and psychologists employed in public, private and community-based agencies in Australia to counsel children and family members following intrafamilial child sexual abuse. Child sexual abuse counseling professionals were interviewed using a semi-structured interview format. An inductive, exploratory approach was taken with resultant interview transcripts analyzed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Five key themes were developed: Parents bring their own histories to their families; parent-child attunement matters; a family is a system within systems; children are active participants in family life; and everyday family interactions provide powerful prevention opportunities. Together, the themes shape how care, risk and communication in families can improve safeguarding. The resultant themes have implications for supporting parents to safeguard against intrafamilial child sexual abuse in day-to-day ways. Practice and policy should broaden guardianship frameworks to include parental self-awareness, parent-child attunement and systemic factors to strengthen prevention and response to intrafamilial child sexual abuse. • Counseling professionals working with children and their families following intrafamilial child sexual abuse have a unique window into the otherwise very private world of “family”. • Counseling professionals were interviewed about the factors they believed were important to understand when strengthening parental safeguarding against intrafamilial child sexual abuse. • Counselors emphasized the salience of parents’ culture and background, the importance of parental attunement with children, recognising children as active participants in their own safety, the role of everyday family communication, and understanding the systems within and around the family that impact safety. • The results inform prevention messaging for parents and young children that can be utilised by those from a broad range of disciplines working and advocating for child safety.