NCJ Number
114787
Journal
Community Mental Health Journal Volume: 24 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1988) Pages: 43-51
Date Published
1988
Length
9 pages
Annotation
The prevalence and effects of child abuse have been reported in numerous studies. Although mandatory reporting laws require professionals to report suspected cases of child abuse, studies have indicated that large percentages of mental health professionals report selectively. The present study investigates professionals' tendency to report and attribution of responsibility for child abuse.
Abstract
One-hundred and one mental health clinicians working within three community mental health centers (CMHC's) completed experimentally controlled vignettes manipulating victim age, type of abuse, and victim reactions during an interview. Results indicated 81 percent of the clinicians tended to report the presented case of child abuse. Clinicians' tendency to report depended on the level of certainty they had that abuse was occurring. Professionals' attribution of responsibility to the father and mother varied as a function of the type of abuse occurring. The impact of victim characteristics on clinicians' reporting is discussed. (Author abstract)