Assessing the role of social support in adult disclosure of child sexual abuse: a case of undergraduate students of the University of Lagos in Nigeria

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a violation of the rights of the child and it remains a major concern in many countries of the world across diverse social, economic and racial groups. In Nigeria, the prevalence of CSA despite government regulations and policies against it shows that there are still existing gaps in the implementation of these laws. While some research works have been done on the nature of sexual abuse, prevention, treatment and disclosure, little is known about the role of social support systems in the disclosure tendency of adult victims of CSA. While there have been several efforts to curtail this menace, cases continue to rise due to the negative treatments that victims get when they disclose their experiences. The fear children face from their abusers and their immaturity also contribute to why they choose to remain silent. However, the choice of the disclosure may become more attractive as an adult. Yet, there have to be incentives to encourage disclosure of child abuse experience for adults. The social support system is intended to create an enabling environment for adults to express their feelings and share their experiences without fear of rejection or attack. This study assessed the role of social support services in adult disclosure of child sexual abuse by exploring the case of undergraduate students at the Lagos State University. The study found that adult disclosure of CSA is necessary for survivors to access critical support services towards their complete healing. The findings from this research suggest that strengthening the social support services in Lagos is needed to curtail the menace of CSA in Lagos while also implementing interventions that would address the stigmatization of victims and that justice is served against perpetrators.