NCJ Number
211528
Journal
Child Abuse Review Volume: 14 Issue: 4 Dated: July-August 2005 Pages: 240-258
Date Published
July 2005
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This study explored the relationship between childhood experiences of discipline, the perception of those experiences, and current views about discipline and child abuse among a sample of mandated child abuse reporters.
Abstract
As part of a legislative framework to prevention serious injuries and fatalities resulting from child abuse, selected child service professionals have been mandated, both at the local and national levels, to report all cases of suspected child abuse. While some of these professionals are required to attend a training course designed to ensure they are aware of their legal obligations as mandated reporters, many cases of child abuse fail to be reported. The current study obtained questionnaire data from 80 prospective mandated reporters before they took the required training course in order to investigate the link between childhood experiences of discipline, perceptions of those experiences, and current views about discipline and abuse. Participants were recruited via informational flyers distributed in nursing and education classes in an urban community college. Results of statistical analyses indicated that childhood experiences of discipline, coupled with perceptions of rejection, accounted for a significant amount of the variance in mandated reporters current views on appropriate discipline. The findings are discussed in terms of their implications for mandated reporter trainings. Future research should continue probing personal history factors among mandated reporters in terms of their potential role in perceptions of abuse and decisions to report abuse. Tables, references