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Mental health professionals and suspected cases of child abuse: An investigation of factors influencing reporting

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Abstract

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. One-hundred and one mental health clinicians working within three community mental health centers (CMHCs) completed experimentally controlled vignettes manipulating victim age, type of abuse, and victim reactions during an interview. Results indicated 81% 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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology Dept., University of South Carolina, 29208, Columbia, S.C.

    Seth C. Kalichman B.A.

Authors
  1. Seth C. Kalichman B.A.
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  2. Mary E. Craig M.A.
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  3. Diane R. Follingstad Ph.D.
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Additional information

The authors wish to thank Tony Broskowski, Northside Community Mental Health Center, Hillsborough Community Mental Health Center, Broward County Mental Division, Rita Kalichman, and Syd Kalichman for their support in this study.

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Kalichman, S.C., Craig, M.E. & Follingstad, D.R. Mental health professionals and suspected cases of child abuse: An investigation of factors influencing reporting. Community Ment Health J 24, 43–51 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00755052

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