Strengthening parental safeguarding against intrafamilial child sexual abuse: Sexual assault counselors’ window into salient family dynamics and prevention

Shona Innes; Susan Rayment-McHugh; Harriot Beazley

doi:10.1016/j.chipro.2026.100281

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Strengthening parental safeguarding against intrafamilial child sexual abuse: Sexual assault counselors’ window into salient family dynamics and prevention

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Strengthening parental safeguarding against intrafamilial child sexual abuse: Sexual assault counselors’ window into salient family dynamics and prevention

Shona Innes, Susan Rayment-McHugh and Harriot Beazley

Child Protection and Practice, Vol.8, pp.1-11

2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chipro.2026.100281

Appears in UniSC Diversity and Inclusion Research Collection

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Abstract

safeguarding

guardianship theory

intrafamilial child sexual abuse

prevention

parent-focused prevention

counseling professionals

UniSC Diversity Area - Life Stages

Background A substantial proportion of childhood sexual abuse occurs in family settings. Intrafamilial child sexual abuse can commence at a very early age, be long lasting and can impact a child's entire early social system. Criminological guardianship highlights the role that individuals (capable guardians) can play in safeguarding children (deterring crime). Whilst parents are well placed to safeguard against intrafamilial child sexual abuse, the complexity of family dynamics and the privacy of domestic settings can complicate prevention efforts. Counselors working with families after intrafamilial child sexual abuse gain real-time, first-hand insights into what strengthens or hinders parental safeguarding – a viewpoint not captured by existing safeguarding research. Objective This study sought to explore factors that Australian child sexual abuse counseling professionals believed were important to understand when strengthening parental guardianship against intrafamilial child sexual abuse. Participants and setting Participants were 11 social workers and psychologists employed in public, private and community-based agencies in Australia to counsel children and family members following intrafamilial child sexual abuse. Methods Child sexual abuse counseling professionals were interviewed using a semi-structured interview format. An inductive, exploratory approach was taken with resultant interview transcripts analyzed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Results Five key themes were developed: Parents bring their own histories to their families; parent-child attunement matters; a family is a system within systems; children are active participants in family life; and everyday family interactions provide powerful prevention opportunities. Together, the themes shape how care, risk and communication in families can improve safeguarding. Conclusions The resultant themes have implications for supporting parents to safeguard against intrafamilial child sexual abuse in day-to-day ways. Practice and policy should broaden guardianship frameworks to include parental self-awareness, parent-child attunement and systemic factors to strengthen prevention and response to intrafamilial child sexual abuse.

Details

Title: Strengthening parental safeguarding against intrafamilial child sexual abuse: Sexual assault counselors’ window into salient family dynamics and prevention
Authors: Shona Innes (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit
Susan Rayment-McHugh - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit
Harriot Beazley - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Law and Society
Publication details: Child Protection and Practice, Vol.8, pp.1-11
Publisher: Elsevier Inc.
Date published: 2026
DOI: 10.1016/j.chipro.2026.100281
ISSN: 2950-1938
Copyright note: © 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Organisation Unit: Healthy Ageing Research Cluster; Indigenous and Transcultural Research Centre; School of Law and Society; Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit; Sustainability Research Cluster
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991199050802621
Output Type: Journal article

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