Research with Young People
What does it look like to research sexual abuse with young people?
How do you build trust with young people when researching childhood sexual abuse? What is care-based practice? And how can different cultural values shape the way we respond to CSA? Sophia (she/her), founder of Secrets Worth Sharing, is joined by Janelle (she/her), a Post Doctoral Research Associate at Durham University, to discuss.
Your Hosts
Sophia — Founder of Secrets Worth Sharing
Sophia (she/her) is a survivor of child sexual abuse, designer and the founder of Secrets Worth Sharing, where she builds a community of having these difficult conversations with 'serious joy'.
Janelle — Postdoctoral Research Associate
Janelle (she/her) is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Durham University. She is leading the development and evaluation of a training course on participatory research with neurodivergent young people.
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To recap
Things you should say/do when working with young people
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Being a good active listener is very important when trying to make young people feel respected. Paying attention to not only their words, but also their actions, and recognising how they are feeling or if they are acting out of the ordinary. Young people will appreciate that you are putting in the time to make them feel heard.
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It’s not about adopting the slang or pretending you’re into the same things. It’s about not trivialising the things that young people find important. Bonding can happen when you take five minutes to chat about a new TV programme or TikTok meme, and from there a deeper sense of trust can develop.
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Young people are experts in their own experiences and have a breadth of knowledge, wisdom and perspective when it comes to childhood sexual violence. Taking the time to ask young people about their opinions can open the door to new ways of working that are more collaborative, respectful and fruitful.
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There’s nothing more powerful than being open and honest about the differences between yourself and the young person you’re working with. Naming the generational gap instead of trying to ignore it can open you up to more honest dialogues with young people and provide more opportunities for learning on both sides of the conversation.
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Childhood sexual violence can be a very heavy topic. Implementing Serious Joy through games, food or fun conversations is a great way to connect and recognise the full human being behind the trauma. By helping young people to feel relaxed, conversations can open up and flow more freely, allowing for a deeper understanding and more clarity in your research.
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Conversations about safety, consent and bodily autonomy should be starting from a young age, so learning how to discuss these sensitive topics in an age-appropriate way is key. Checking out content made by child safety specialists like @thebodysafetyexpert is a great way to learn how to have appropriate and impactful conversations with small children.
Things you shouldn't say/do
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While you may have research responsibilities to fulfil, or deadlines to meet, ensuring that young people have control and autonomy over their own decisions throughout the research is vital. Give them the space and control to decide how they engage and participate in the research, including the ability to opt out or pause their participation.
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Sometimes, once a disclosure has been made, adults may try to take over control of the situation to try and alleviate the weight that young person is carrying. This often comes from a good place, but removing their autonomy at a time when they’ve already had their agency taken away can do more harm than good. Ensure that you include young people’s perspectives on what they want to happen next.
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Regardless of the type of abuse that the young person has experienced, their trauma may manifest in a variety of ways. Someone might seem like they’re coping well, but actually masking their true feelings or trying to protect their loved ones from discomfort or sadness. This also means that the next steps for recovery can look different for every child. Don’t assume what the young person needs — always ask.
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If a young person has been abused online, via their phone, gaming apps, social media, etc. it can be tempting to respond by taking away their devices or banning them from certain platforms. While this is to protect them, young people may instead see this as a punishment for coming forward. Healthy conversations about how to engage with devices sensibly might be a better option than removing the things they enjoy and find escape in.
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It’s easy to think “I’ve been there, I’ve done that” when working with young people, but in reality there are huge generational differences when it comes to technology, modern relationships, etc. Make a point to ask questions and not assume that young people’s experiences will mimic your own at the same age.
Additional resources
On Your Side – A support and reporting service for East and Southeast Asian communities who experience racism or any form
The React Network – A network for practitioners and academics of racialised heritages and/or religions who are focused on addressing child sexual abuse
Child sexual abuse of African, Asian and Caribbean heritage children: A knowledge review – an evidence review by Sukhwant Dhaliwal, commissioned by the CSA Centre that synthesises research on the experiences, barriers to disclosure, and service responses for African, Asian and Caribbean heritage children affected by child sexual abuse
Listening Differently: Centring Children and Young People’s Voices in Understanding Sexual Violence – a journal article by Janelle that argues for placing children and young people's own perspectives at the centre of understanding and preventing sexual violence
Ecosystems of Care (EOC): An Approach to Addressing Child Sexual Abuse in Southeast Asian Communities in the United Kingdom – a journal article co-authored by Janelle proposing a community-based approach to improving child sexual abuse prevention and support for Southeast Asian communities in the UK
The Balancing Act: Reflections From Three Projects on Negotiating Participation and Protection in Doing Research With Children and Young People on Violence and Abuse – a journal article co-authored by Janelle exploring how researchers can balance children's participation and protection when conducting research on violence and abuse
Sexual violence against children – A journal article by Janelle examining the global nature of child sexual violence, its different forms and contexts, and the importance of centring children and young people’s experiences in prevention and response
Definitions - Kagandahang-Loob – A cultural explainer on Filipino values explores kapwa, loob and kagandahang-loob as interconnected concepts centred on shared identity, inner values and generosity towards others.
@thebodysafetyexpert – Lexi is a CSA Prevention Educator who creates online content to help people protect children from sexual abuse
*Please note - in sharing resources mentioned by our co-hosts, we are not necessarily endorsing all of their content, but we do so to allow you to make up your own mind.
