Willingness to Intervene in Child Abuse and Neglect: An Exploratory Study. (21st May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sar, Bibhuti K.; Bledsoe, Linda K.
• Is Part Of: Child abuse review. Volume 30:Number 3(2021)
• Page Start: 226
• Page End: 238
• Publication Date: 2021-05-21
• Subjects: prevention -- willingness to intervene -- child abuse -- child neglect -- knowledge; Child abuse -- Periodicals; Child abuse -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Abused children -- Services for -- Periodicals; Abused children -- Services for -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 362.76
• DOI: 10.1002/car.2678
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0952-9136

Abstract

Abstract : The serious negative impacts of child abuse and neglect require greater focus on understanding the factors that influence adults' willingness to intervene when they observe instances of possible abuse and neglect. This study tests whether certain reporter characteristics and experiences, such as individual and family maltreatment history/experiences and perceived knowledge of child abuse indicators, correlate with, and mediate in, the decision to intervene. Demographics and willingness to report data were collected from adults ( n = 306) attending a child abuse prevention training programme in a metropolitan city. The findings indicate that perceived knowledge of child abuse indicators plays a mediation role in willingness to take action to respond to child abuse and neglect. Practice and future research implications of these findings are discussed. 'This study tests whether certain reporter characteristics and experiences… correlate with, and mediate in, the decision to intervene' Key Practitioner Messages: A maltreatment history was associated with willingness to intervene, and that effect was mediated by perceived knowledge of symptoms of abuse and neglect. Child abuse prevention education programmes should consider including a component in the curriculum in which personal and family maltreatment history can move to the forefront and influence decisions to intervene in instances of suspected abuse and neglect.