This briefing uses insights from Childline counselling sessions and NSPCC Helpline contacts to explore children’s experiences of intrafamilial sexual abuse, also known as child sexual abuse that happens in the family environment, including online sexual abuse.
Child sexual abuse can have ongoing effects on brain development, behaviour, mental health and relationships.1 When child sexual abuse occurs within the family, there can be additional complexities to identifying and responding to this type of abuse.
To help professionals build confidence and understanding of sexual abuse within a family, this briefing highlights the voices of children and adults speaking about intrafamilial sexual abuse, including:
- the emotional and physical effects on children including flashbacks, depression and urges to self-harm
- barriers to telling someone or reporting the abuse
- the lasting impact on the lives of adult survivors
- children’s varied experiences when someone did know about the abuse.
Even if a child doesn’t tell someone verbally about what’s happened to them, there may be indicators that adults around them can recognise. Listening to a child and reporting the abuse should be a priority for any adult who finds out about intrafamilial sexual abuse.
