Norwegian parents’ experiences, and professional responses, when a child has sexually abused another child

This study uses a systemic perspective to investigate the experiences of families after the disclosure of harmful sexual behaviour in children and adolescents. Qualitative methods are used, including field notes from ethnographic observations at one of Norway’s Barnahus, semi-structured interviews with six parents, and focus groups with seven professionals from the Police, Child Protection Services, and Barnahus respectively. The parents in the study had all experienced that their child was reported to the police on suspicion of having committed harmful sexual behaviour towards other children. The aim of the research was to further our knowledge regarding how parents experience and manage the situation when their child has committed harmful sexual behaviour, as well as to investigate how the various agencies involved can support them in the best possible way. Reflexive Thematic Analysis was the chosen method of analysis. The findings show that the parents experienced disempowerment, fear and helplessness when dealing with the police, something which they also experienced as leading to negative responses from society, and which in turn reinforced experiences of shame and isolation. In addition, it also emerged that parents often experienced insufficient support and follow up from Child Protection Services and Barnahus, particularly regarding the relational and social consequences of harmful sexual behaviour, and that there still exist deep-seated and rigid attitudes in Norwegian society when it comes to dealing with sexuality, independent of the child’s age, functioning or care situation. The research points out the need to challenge ingrained and hidden mechanisms to support children and families in the best possible way, and there is a need for changes in both values and political priorities in a Norwegian context.