Understanding the help-seeking decisions of sexual assault survivors: Implications for social work practice in Hong Kong

Abstract

The study aims to adopt a social constructionist and feminist approach to explore the interactional factors that influence the decision of sexual violence survivors to seek help and disclose their sexual abuse experiences in Hong Kong. The study has adopted both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Results suggest that the decisions of sexual assault survivors to disclose their experiences or seek help are not characterized by a rational process based on thoughtful calculation or cost–benefit analysis. The survivors’ reactions are social construction processes that were shaped by social context through culture, interpersonal interactions, and support availability.