Uncovering the pathways to disclosures of child sexual abuse (CSA) and the factors
influencing the willingness of victims to talk about the abuse is paramount to the
development of powerful practice and policy initiatives. Framed as a long interview
method utilizing a grounded theory approach to analyze data, the objective of the
current study was to provide a preliminary mapping of the barriers to CSA disclosures
through an ecological systemic lens, from a sample of 67 male and female CSA adult
survivors, all of whom had recently received counselling services. The current project
led to the identification of three broad categories of barriers that were each comprised
of several subthemes, namely: Barriers from Within (internalized victim-blaming, mechanisms
to protect oneself, and immature development at time of abuse); Barriers in Relation
to Others (violence and dysfunction in the family, power dynamics, awareness of the
impact of telling, and fragile social network); and Barriers in Relation to the Social
World (labelling, taboo of sexuality, lack of services available, and culture or time
period). This study points to the importance of using a broad ecological framework
to understand the factors that inhibit disclosure of CSA, as barriers to disclosure
do not constrain solely the victims. Results are discussed in light of their implications
for research, prevention and intervention programs, and social policies and media
campaigns, as the burden is on the larger community to create a climate of safety
and transparency that makes the telling of CSA possible.