RT Article
T1 When disclosure fails to substantiate abuse: child and perpetrator race predict child sexual abuse substantiation
JF Child maltreatment
VO 28
IS 4
SP 621
OP 633
A1 Stevenson, Margaret C.
A2 Rivers, Molly A.
LA English
YR 2023
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1861095643
AB We examined the effects of child race, perpetrator race, and abuse disclosure status (within the context of a formal forensic interview) on abuse substantiation outcomes. Specifically, we coded child sexual abuse disclosure, abuse substantiation, and race of 315 children (80% girls, M age = 10, age range = 2-17; 75% White, 9% Black, 12% Biracial, 3% Hispanic, 1% Asian) who underwent a child forensic interview in a Midwestern child advocacy center. Supporting hypotheses, abuse substantiation was more likely in cases involving (a) abuse disclosure (vs. no disclosure), (b) White children (vs. children of color), and (c) perpetrators of color (vs. White perpetrators). Also supporting hypotheses, the effect of abuse disclosure on increased abuse substantiation was greater for White children than for children of color. This research suggests that even when children of color disclose their experiences of sexual abuse, they nonetheless face barriers to abuse substantiation.
K1 child advocacy centers
K1 Child Sexual Abuse
K1 child maltreatment
K1 Disclosure
K1 Diversity
K1 ethnic minority populations
DO 10.1177/10775595231157729