Situated intimacy in the wake of CSA: a mixed-method study on trust, voice and body

Background Intimacy in adulthood following childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is understood as a situated practice requiring security and responsiveness. Objective This study examined the relationship between coercive CSA techniques and three indicators of adult bonding: Intimacy, Personality Self-Disclosure, and Body Self-Disclosure. Participants and setting The study utilized a mixed sample of adults with a history of CSA. The quantitative phase included 194 participants recruited via non-probabilistic sampling, while the qualitative phase involved in-depth interviews with 9 survivors. Methods A concurrent mixed-methods design was employed. Quantitative data were analysed using MANOVAs to test the effects of coercion techniques (e.g., trickery, authority), moderated by abuse context and age difference. Qualitative data underwent directed qualitative content analysis to explore trust and boundaries. Results In the quantitative analysis, trickery was significantly associated with lower Body Self-Disclosure (F (1, 182) = 6.54, p = .011, ηₚ 2 = 0.035). A significant interaction emerged between context and use of authority regarding Personality Self-Disclosure (F(1, 181) = 6.89, p = .009, ηₚ 2 = 0.037), where authority was associated with less openness in extrafamilial settings. Additionally, trickery showed a significant main effect on Body Self-Disclosure when analysed with age difference (F(1, 183) = 8.46, p = .004, ηₚ 2 = 0.044). Qualitative narratives described trust thresholds, prudent voice management, and physical closeness regulated by ongoing consent. Conclusions Intimacy after CSA is not a fixed attribute but a practice organized around risk reduction. Findings suggest interventions should focus on rebuilding relational trustworthiness, strengthening personal voice, and establishing ongoing consent protocols.