Debriefing - Study 2

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Perceptions of Survivors of Childhood Abuse

Research by Erin C. Ross, Ph.D. and Sadia Zafar, M.A.

Information about the study

First, we want to thank you very much for your interest in our study. In the past, studies on sexual abuse focused largely on the perpetrator and those who have been abused. There is a great deal of research done on characteristics of individuals who sexually abuse children and the factors that can cause individuals to sexually abuse children. Other studies focus on the ways in which survivors suffer physically and emotionally from childhood sexual abuse. Previous research has revealed that a supportive and understanding environment for those who have been sexually abused can have a significant positive effect on the recovery of these survivors. What we don't know very much about is what determines how people respond to those who are survivors of childhood sexual abuse. The first goal of this study is to explore varying beliefs about and social attitudes towards these survivors.
The questionnaires in this study were designed to allow for a broad spectrum of responses to help investigate attitude differences. Questionnaires were distributed at random asking you to rate a survivor of childhood sexual abuse either from your own perspective or to rate the survivor the way in which you thought people in general would respond. One goal of this study was to determine the general beliefs and social attitudes about survivors and there is some evidence that asking people to indicate what others think can result in a more shared or cultural perspective on survivors. You were told before the study, when you read the informed consent document, only that you would rate a survivor of sexual abuse. You weren’t told that one of the purposes of the study is to explore this difference between perspectives because knowing this in advance may lead some people to respond not with their own views or with the views of people in general but, rather, the other perspective. There is research which suggests that people do respond differently when rating adult female rape survivors when asked to use one of these two perspectives. This study explores whether similar differences may be found in responses to survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
This study also contained two questionnaires measuring child sexual abuse myth acceptance, and beliefs in a just world. These questionnaires are examined in relationship to responses to childhood sexual abuse survivors. They provide us with information we use in assessing the quality of our measure of beliefs and social attitudes. We also asked you a series of questions about yourself, such as age, marital status, etc.. We look at the relationship of the characteristics of people to the beliefs about and attitudes towards child sexual abuse survivors.
There is a great deal to be learned in this area of research. There are many avenues that need to be explored as there is little research on attitudes towards survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Future research will build upon the results of this study in an effort to educate those directly and indirectly supporting survivors of sexual abuse.
Your participation in this research is greatly appreciated. Should you have any questions regarding this research please contact Dr. Erin Ross, at the address, phone number or e-mail listed below or Sadia Zafar at the email listed below. As well, below, we have provided a list of resources, of different media types, which you might find useful if you should wish to learn more about sexual assault, childhood sexual abuse and survivors of sexual violence.

Thank You.

Dr. Erin C. Ross, ecross@yorku.ca
Department of Psychology
Faculty of Health
York University
4700 Keele Street
North York, Ontario M3J 1P3
416-736-2100 ext. 33287

and

Sadia Zafar, M.A. sadiaz@yorku.ca
Department of Psychology, York University

and

Daniella Watters, Department of Psychology, York University

RESOURCES