The Long Arm of Trauma: Childhood sexual abuse affects 18% of women and 8% of men. How does a Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA) survivor make the decision to share this fact with his or her romantic partner?
A large 65% of survivor-adults in a recent study were met with helpful response from their partner.
In a study focusing on partner responses to women’s rape, two types of responses were frequently identified as beneficial: emotional support and informational support.
Positive responses to such a disclosure can promote the adjustment of survivors by reducing shame, guilt and isolation.
Getting to know your future partner at the age of 20 is far different than meeting your future partner at the age of say, 50. What prior historical details are appropriate to share? How do we go about knowing when is the right time to reveal these facts?
Should that part of your personal history be discussed at all? *In fact, males are less likely to share their past sexual abuse with a romantic partner.*
While partner-support might feel terrific, should we really expect others to understand? Do we need to know EVERYTHING about our partner? If so, when? Is such an intimate disclosure a set up for the fracture of the relationship and future abandonment? These are personal decisions and require careful consideration.
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