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Affiliation
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University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Department of Psychology, 238 Burnett Hall, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA. |
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Abstract
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BACKGROUND: Many child sexual abuse (CSA) survivors delay or withhold disclosure of their abuse, even when presenting for formal investigation interviews.
OBJECTIVE: This study examined factors that relate to the CSA disclosure process. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTINGS: Participants were CSA victims (N = 1,732) presenting to a Child Advocacy Center (CAC) for a forensic interview.
METHOD: We tested a structural model to predict disclosure before and during a forensic interview using secondary data analysis.
RESULTS: Youth were less likely to disclose before a forensic interview if they witnessed domestic violence (β = -.233, p < .05). Caregivers were less likely to believe the abuse allegation if the alleged perpetrator resided in the home β = -.386, p < .05) and more likely to believe if the youth made a prior disclosure (β =.286, p < .05). Youth were more likely to disclose during the forensic interview if they were older (β = .388, p < .05), if the alleged perpetrator resided in their home (β = .209, p < .05), if they disclosed prior (β = .254, p < .05), and if their caregiver believed the allegation (β = .213, p < . 05). The alleged perpetrator residing in the youth's home (β = -0.082, p <.05) and making a prior disclosure (β = 0.060, p <.05) were both indirectly associated with forensic interview disclosure through caregiver belief.
CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight the importance of the family context and caregiver belief in the disclosure process for youth involved in formal CSA investigations.
Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Language: en |