Factors that influence whether children will disclose abuse

‘Trends in children’s disclosure of abuse in Israel: A national study’ provides insight into why some children are more likely to disclose abuse than others. The study could change the way suspected child abuse cases are approached in the future.

The study, undertaken by Professor Michael Lamb of the University of Cambridge and his colleagues Irit Hershkowitz (University of Haifa, Israel) and Dvora Horowitz (Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Israel) researched the characteristics associated with the disclosure of physical and sexual abuse to investigative agencies. The researchers found various factors affect the rate of disclosure. These include: the age of the child, with younger children less likely than older children to reveal abuse; the sex of the child, with boys less likely to disclose than girls; prior disclosure of the abuse; the relationship between children and the suspected abuser, with children less likely to report abuse by family members; and the context of the interview with the lowest rates of disclosure found in clinical settings.

The research is of special interest as it is the first to use a comprehensive national data set; the study used all reported cases of abuse in Israel during a five year period - totalling 26,446 children. Additionally, the database was unique as it was comprised using a standardised interview protocol. The protocol, the National Institute of Child and Health and Human Development (NICHD) Investigative Interview Protocol, was created by Professor Lamb and his colleagues to increase the amount and quality of information provided when children are questioned about abuse.

Professor Lamb stated: “This study dramatically increases our understanding of child abuse and disclosure. With this greater understanding, we can help formulate best practice for investigating suspected abuse cases in the future.”