An investigation of the lived experiences of non-offending family members of men who download Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM)

Non-offending family members are often viewed as a valuable protective resource for offenders, supporting post-accusation/conviction adjustment and reducing risk of re-offending. Yet, from the perspective of non-offending relatives, there is a limited understanding about how they actually cope after their family member is accused and/or convicted of a sexual offence, and the extent to which they are supported. The aim of the present research was to examine the lived experiences of relatives of sex offenders in Ireland and the United Kingdom. A qualitative research design was adopted, and data analysed via reflexive thematic analysis. Fifteen individuals self-selected for interview following a recruitment campaign utilising four gatekeeper agencies across Ireland and the United Kingdom. All participants identified as family members of individuals that had been accused and/or convicted of an online, non-contact sexual crime and interviews resulted in a very rich source of data for analysis. Five key themes were identified, Shattered Worldview, The Injured Self, Contamination by Association, Navigation through Secondary Stigma and Fragile Future. A number of sub-themes were also identified within each of the five themes which served to provide further clarification about the lived experiences of relatives of sex offenders. The analysis highlighted how non-offending family members experienced secondary stigma with consequences that impacted every aspect of their lives. These findings are discussed in relation to the limited available literature along with research implications with suggestions about future directions as well as recommendations for both policy and practice.