What Canadian youth tell us about disclosing abuse |
| |
| Authors: | Michael Ungar Leslie M Tutty Sheri McConnell Ken Barter Judi Fairholm |
| |
| Institution: | 1. School of Social Work, Dalhousie University, 6414 Coburg Road, Halifax, NS, Canada B3H 2A7;2. Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary AB, Canada;3. School of Social Work, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Box 4200, St. John''s, Newfoundland, Canada;4. School of Social Work, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John''s, Newfoundland, Canada;5. RespectED: Violence and Abuse Prevention, Canadian Red Cross, 4750 Oak Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada;1. Département de psychologie, Université of Montréal, Québec, Canada;2. Département des sciences de la santé, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Québec, Canada;1. School of Health and Social Science, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, United Kingdom;2. Centre for Applied Developmental Psychology, School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, United Kingdom;3. Children’s Wellbeing Duty Social Work Team, Randall House, Macmerry Business Park, EH33 1RW, United Kingdom;1. École de criminologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada;2. Département de sexologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Canada;3. Chaire interuniversitaire Marie-Vincent sur les agressions sexuelles envers les enfants, Montréal, Canada |
| |
| Abstract: | ObjectiveTo report findings from a study of anonymous disclosures of abuse experiences among a national sample of youth in Canada who participated in violence prevention programming.MethodsA qualitative analysis was done of a purposeful sample of 1,099 evaluation forms completed following Red Cross RespectED violence prevention programming delivered between 2000 and 2003. Forms were selected based on program facilitators identifying voluntary, anonymous disclosures by youth participants of neglect and emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. Additional data for this analysis includes 27 interviews and focus groups that were used to understand the context of these disclosures and to engage the help of youth and program facilitators in the interpretation of findings.ResultsWhile this study is exploratory and non-representative in its design, findings suggest high rates of hidden abuse, with less than a quarter of youth with abuse experiences reporting a disclosure. Disclosure patterns vary with boys, youth aged 14–15, victims of physical abuse, and those abused by a family member being most likely to disclose to professionals or the police. Interviews help to explain the large number of youth who express reticence to disclose to professionals. Specifically, the data show a perception among youth of negative consequences following disclosure.ConclusionsThis data raises questions regarding why youth are reluctant to report abuse to professionals, preferring to cope independently or by confiding in peers. Youth in this study report feeling anxious about disclosing to authorities, fearful of the potential loss of control over decisions which affect them.Practice implicationsFindings suggest that professionals who provide support to young people's own networks of family and friends may help to facilitate youths’ disclosures of abuse. Furthermore, prevention programming that promotes a positive attitude towards disclosure of abuse experiences and provides an anonymous forum (such as an evaluation form) in which to do so is likely to encourage more young people to disclose. |
| |
| Keywords: | Disclosure Violence prevention programming Physical and sexual abuse Youth directed disclosure |
| 本文献已被 ScienceDirect 等数据库收录！ |
|
