This paper asserts that school counselors and other professional counselors need to be aware of lawsuits involving professional rights and responsibilities. It notes that the courts have heard cases involving privileged communication, failure to exercise adequate precautions for a suicidal client, sexual misconduct, invasion of privacy, and…

This study investigates prevention and treatment programs that deal with rural child sexual abuse in the State of Washington. A survey of 61 rural service providers examined agencies, services provided, problems faced in service delivery, and innovative solutions to those problems. The study compares responses from three types of agencies (mental…

Federal Bureau of Investigation statistics show a 183% increase in female juvenile prostitution and a 245% increase in male juvenile prostitution between the years 1969 and 1978. Most of these juveniles were runaways who shared a common childhood background of physical and sexual abuse. In 1981, a city task force was created to examine the problem…

A multi-method approach involving observations, interviews, and parental self-reports of family behavior, was developed to investigate the parenting behaviors of mothers who either had been or had not been sexually abused in their families when children. Of the 20 families with mothers who had been abused, 10 were two-parent and 10 were…

This study investigated family characteristics as risk factors for sexual abuse by examining the family environments of both abused and nonabused young adults as assessed by the Family Environment Scale. Participants were college students (N=230) at a major southeastern university. A total of 105 students reported sexual experiences which occurred…

Statistics indicate that 100,000 to 500,000 children are sexually abused yearly. Changing child abuse laws, significant attention by the media, and sexual abuse prevention programs have contributed to the explosion of incest disclosures from children and adults, including college students. Studies support the prevalence of incest victims within…

Extending an earlier analysis by Giovannoni and Becerra (1979) that compared attitudes of Blacks, Hispanics, and Whites toward child abuse and neglect, this discussion provides an in-depth analysis of responses by Black parents. Vignettes describing situations of potential risk to children were rated by 129 Black respondents. The vignettes…

Child abuse and neglect (CA&N), as a social and psychological phenomenon, represents a major area of concern internationally. This study examined the prevalence and self-reported effects of CA&N in Iran through a descriptive investigation of high school students' experiences. A sample consisting of 2,240 high school students representing 5…

This paper sets out the legal grounds for sexual harassment claims in education settings, and notes a number of pertinent cases that are illustrative of common legal and factual issues. Sexual harassment, including sexual abuse, is prohibited by federal and state statutes. Sexual harassment in the context of employment constitutes employment…

A structural equation model was proposed to explore influencing factors that may contribute to school psychologists' role inhibition versus progressive pursuits towards the delivery of child sex abuse services. Three work-related variables (attitude, locus of control, work-setting demands) were examined to assess their impact on the initiatives…

This paper summarizes the process of instituting a standardized mental health assessment protocol in a community health treatment program serving maltreated youth. The assessment program was intended to: (1) provide descriptive data regarding the populating utilizing the service; (2) examine the efficacy of therapeutic interventions and monitor…

This paper on the behavioral manifestations of child sexual abuse first reviews previous research concerning child variables, parent/family variables, sexual abuse in combination with other maltreatment, and physiological outcomes. Criteria for future research are offered and specific research needs in the areas of developmental progression,…

Reviews the research on medical sequelae of child sexual abuse; identifies unanswered questions; and suggests areas of research, including prospective studies of child sexual abuse, follow-up of victims, studies of nonclinic populations, studies of male victims, examination of additional variables (such as regional variation and age), diseases…

This commentary on a previous article (EC 619 261) about medical consequences of child sexual abuse urges prospective studies using large populations to evaluate many variables, as well as selection of projects which are most likely to influence practice or policy and thus affect significant numbers of persons. (DB)

This commentary on an article (EC 619 279) about research issues at the interface of medicine and law concerning medical evaluation for child sexual abuse focuses on empirically testable questions: (1) the medical history--its accuracy, interviewing issues, and elicitation and preservation of verbal evidence of abuse; and, (2) expert testimony.…