Exploring the multiplicity of childhood sexual abuse with a focus on polyincestuous contexts of abuse

This study explored the prevalence of multiple abusers and polyincest in a clinical sample of 88 adult women, focusing on interviews with a subset of 30. For the sample as a whole, 43% reported three or more abusers and 23% reported polyincest. The narrative data was divided into three categories defined as Single-Abuser (N=8), Multiple Abuser (N=8), and Polyincestuous (N=14). These were compared to determine how survivors perceived family members' and others' reactions to disclosure of CSA. All three groups experienced various forms of silencing. The most negative responses were linked to polyincestuous abuse. Three themes were identified as denial/ minimization/normalization, fear/reprisal, and negative/inadequate. Results suggest the need for further research on the frequency of multiple abusers among victims of sexual abuse, as well as the ways in which family and social contexts serve as collusive environments for the practice of CSA.