Globally, children with intellectual disabilities are at an increased risk of being victims of maltreatment compared to those without disabilities. Among the children who do disclose the abuse, limitations with communication and working memory can result in their allegation being perceived as not credible. There are several evidence-based…

In suspected child sexual abuse some professionals recommend multiple child interviews to increase the likelihood of disclosure or more details to improve decision-making and increase convictions. We modeled the yield of a policy of routinely conducting multiple child interviews and increased convictions. Our decision tree reflected the path of a…

This paper details a systematic literature review identifying problems in extant research relating to teachers' attitudes toward reporting child sexual abuse and offers a model for new attitude scale development and testing. Scale development comprised a five-phase process grounded in contemporary attitude theories, including (a) developing the…

Examines the relationship between counseling and research strategies with the context of a qualitative study of people coping with the aftermath of child sexual abuse. Identifies the counseling potential of the research situation. This is linked to the need for both researcher and research supervisor to develop additional skills. (Author/MKA)

Perceptions of the child sexual abuse investigation process have received little research attention. In this study, interviews were conducted with 51 children and 124 primary carers where the children had made clear disclosures of sexual abuse. While the majority reported positive experiences of the professionals involved, there were problems with…

This qualitative, phenomenological study explores the experiences of dance therapy for 5 women who had been sexually abused as children. Using in-depth, largely unstructured interviews, the women reflect on their dance therapy experiences: and on their perceptions of the role of these experiences in their psychological healing. (Contains 46…

This article reviews research on positive and negative effects of verbally or mentally rehearsing a memory of an abuse incidence on the length, accuracy, and structure of children's reports of a particular incident. Implications for interviewing children in sexual abuse investigations are discussed and a set of recommendations is provided.…

This statement, signed by 20 experts on child welfare and abuse, summarizes agreement regarding the current status of knowledge in investigation of child sexual abuse and identifies those areas in which further research remains necessary. The statement addresses behavioral indicators of abuse, interviewing child victims, the use of dolls and other…

Clinical evaluations of child molesters include a clinical interview and psychological testing, and sometimes phallometric assessment and polygraphy. The information gathered explains the situational antecedents and offender characteristics that led to the sexual victimization and the amount of risk an individual presents. (JDD)

The current state of knowledge, primarily anecdotal, concerning ritualism in child sexual abuse is reviewed. The terminology is defined, and the issues of credibility and responses among parents, professionals, and the community are discussed. Implications for interviewing in clinical practice and for policy development are described, as are areas…

Multiple personality disorder (MPD) is now recognized as a valid diagnostic category. Occurrence may be higher than previously suspected. While physiological testing of MPD has shown significant differences between the various personalities of individuals in terms of galvanic skin response, electroencephalogram recordings, electrodermal response…

This article discusses use of child interview data to decide whether or not a child has been sexually abused. It examines the role of child interview findings from a historical perspective, discusses the challenge of researching criteria indicative of a true allegation, reviews existing studies of child interview data, draws conclusions, and…

Uses interviews with residents and ex-residents, ethnographic techniques, and document analysis to examine sexuality and sexual abuse in residential childcare settings, including how their culture and leadership contribute to abuse and the denial and invisibility of sexuality. Discusses issues around researching sexuality, children, and abusive…

Anatomically detailed dolls have become a most popular clinical tool in the validation of child sexual abuse allegations. However, widespread use of these dolls is not supported by empirical literature. Issues associated with the standardization of the dolls, norms for their use in validation interviews, and training of doll users need to be…

This article reviews research on children's development of cognition, memory, and language; development of knowledge about the legal system; developmental and motivational factors influencing children's willingness to make sexual abuse reports in legal settings; reports of abusive touch; and strategies used to prepare children for medical…