| Abstract: | This paper details the results of a questionnaire survey completed by 71 members of a national support group of workers in the field of ritual abuse, investigating the extent and nature of personal, interpersonal and professional stress factors involved in such work. The results indicate that professional work in the field of ritual abuse frequently gives rise to negative changes in behaviour and in physical and emotional health among workers. Support and supervision requirements are also addressed, as is the possibility/probability of threat and intimidation. The discussion proposes, and considers, three hypotheses: that workers in the field of ritual abuse are currently professionally isolated; that ritual abuse work is qualitatively different from other work; and that ritual abuse work may involve threat and intimidation. |
