A percepção de família em vítimas de abuso sexual intrafamiliar: estudo de caso

This study had the objective of investigating the perceptions of family of two girls victims of intrafamilial sexual abuse. The participants were two twin sisters of 12 years old, abused by their grandfather, uncle and father. They responded to a semi-structured interview and to family instruments (Family System Test (FAST), Family Identification Test (FIT) and Familiograma). The results indicate low familial cohesion, high hierarchy with explicit generational limits and low self-congruence. The two sisters showed identification with the abusers and consider the mother as a model for them. The affection was described toward each family member and varied from low to medium. The conflict varied from medium to high. The interview indicated an isolation tendency, low self-steam, aggressive attitudes, guilt feelings, fear and shame. The need for studies that provide an amplification of knowledge about the family’s dynamic involved in these cases is highlighted.