Introduction: There is a lot of talk about motherhood nowadays, which has also triggered conversations and research on women's traumatic experiences of motherhood. This includes the impact of sexual abuse on motherhood, but due to a lack of research, the impact is still relatively unknown. Sexual abuse can leave repercussions on women's physical and psychological well-being. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to present the effects of sexual abuse on motherhood, and to gain a deeper understanding of the effects on the mother, her relationship with her child, and how these effects are passed on to her child. Methods. The literature was searched in English with the keywords sexual abuse AND child sexual abuse AND parenting AND motherhood, in the databases ScienceDirect, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and DiKUL. 14 articles were included in the analysis. The literature review was presented using a PRISMA diagram. Results: Women with a history of childhood sexual abuse were more likely to have teenage pregnancies, had lower academic performance and were at higher risk of re-abuse. They were also more likely to experience mental health problems such as dissociation, anxiety and depression. Their experience had a particular impact on their negative relationship with their children, lower maternal warmth, lower parental self-esteem and they were also more protective of their children. Children had more problems with internalisation, externalization, more behavioural problems and an anxious attachment to their mother. Discussion and conclusion: Childhood sexual abuse has negative consequences for partner relationships and for women's education and mental health. Mental health is more likely to be affected by dissociation, anxiety, post-traumatic stress and depression. These women have more negative attitudes towards their children, are more prone to physical discipline, have lower maternal warmth and have problems with the intimate parts of parenting. They are also more protective of their children. These children are more likely to have problems with internalisation and externalisation, as well as other behavioural problems.
|
