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Abstract
Objectives: The secondary data analysis of a survey conducted among women who experienced childhood sexual abuse (CSA) was used to determine the effect of disclosure on resilience in adulthood. Methods: The sample consisted of 86 women who experienced CSA and did not exhibit clinically significant difficulties (i.e., resilient group) compared to 353 women who experienced CSA and did exhibit clinically significant difficulties (i.e., non-resilient group). The aim of this study was to identify the disclosure patterns that predicted group membership, controlling for CSA characteristics, other experiences of childhood maltreatment, and various sociodemographic factors. Results: The disclosure pattern was significantly associated with resilience. Participants who disclosed their experiences of CSA, and perceived the help they received as unhelpful, were less likely to belong to the resilient group compared to those who never disclosed their experiences of CSA. Implications: The reactions toward the victim following the disclosure of CSA and the victim’s perception of these reactions appear to be associated with the resilience of adult women who experienced CSA. The results highlight the need for proactive help-seeking prevention programs for CSA victims, and the importance of raising awareness and equipping individuals who may receive disclosures of CSA.