2015 The lived experiences of mothers whose children were sexually abused by their intimate male partners

Child sexual abuse is a widespread issue that affects many families worldwide and seems to be sharply rising in South Africa. The experiences of non-offending mothers are frequently ignored in the literature on child sexual abuse, which focuses mostly on the victims and abusers. This study set out to investigate the actual experiences of moms whose children had been sexually assaulted by their close male companions. The study used existential phenomenology, and data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six-phase thematic analysis. According to the findings, the individuals went through feelings including incredulity, anger, remorse, depression, trust, and blame that are typical of those who have experienced a loss.