Echoes of silence Exploring the impact of preverbal sexual abuse on children and parents

The Amsterdam Sexual Abuse Case (ASAC) came to light at the end of 2010, when a male daycare worker was suspected of sexually abusing dozens of children at a preverbal age. The case was unprecedented due to the large number of victims, the young age of the children, the perpetrator’s role as a daycare worker, the extensive evidence concerning the abuse, and the existence and dissemination of digital child sexual abuse material depicting the abuse. The case generated extensive media attention and raised profound questions among parents, professionals, society, and the scientific community. Despite growing research on the consequences of child sexual abuse (CSA), little is known about the impact of CSA occurring during the preverbal years, or about its consequences for non-offending parents.
The ASAC study was established to investigate preverbal CSA signs, short- and long-term psychological consequences for children and their parents. In this dissertation, we aimed to investigate symptoms of PTSD, emotional and (sexual)behavioral problems, and attachment-related difficulties in children, and parental PTSD, emotional reactions, and quality of partner relationship. Also, using qualitative methods, we explored the in-depth experiences of parents beyond mere symptomatology, reflecting both on the immediate aftermath of CSA discovery and on the challenges they faced in the subsequent years. Specifically, we examined the emotional impact parents experienced upon discovering the preverbal CSA; their experiences with navigating media coverage; service responses; taking legal action; and challenges involved in deciding whether or not to disclose the abuse. Ultimately, this dissertation seeks to advance understanding of the unique challenges associated with preverbal CSA and inform clinical practice, policy, and support systems for affected families.