Allegations Of Child Sexual Abuse Research Articles

Psychological testing in evaluation of child sexual abuse

In order to assess the utility of psychological testing in evaluating allegations of child sexual abuse, the empirical literature is reviewed in an attempt to answer two questions. First, are there systematic and significant differences on psychological tests between sexually abused and nonabused children? Second, are these differences on psychological testing a direct result of sexual abuse, or are they a result of other coexisting factors that might cause psychological distress? Cognitive measures, personality inventories, symptomatology checklists, and projective tests with sexually abused children are reviewed. While a variety of standardized instruments have been administered to sexually abused children, relatively few have been utilized in empirical studies. Findings have been mixed, with stronger differences between sexually abused and nonabused children generally found on measures completed by parents than on measures administered directly to children. Sexually abused children often fall between nonabused and psychiatric groups. Use of measures specific to sexual abuse is advocated. While psychological tests may currently have limited use in validating suspected sexual abuse, they may be extremely useful in the clinical treatment of the child.

Evidence and Child Sexual Abuse - Obfuscation or illumination?

In an earlier article in this journal (Bates, 1992), I suggested that, ‘Legislation and traditional legal principle seems to have been used to obfuscate, rather than enhance, the fact finding process.’ The cases discussed in that article (Minister of Community Welfare v B.Y. and L.F. (1988) F.L.C. 91-973; In the Marriage of Y and F (1990) F.L.C. 92-141; In the Marriage of D and B (1991) F.L.C. 92-226) documented that administrative processes were far from satisfactory in the way in which they dealt with allegations of child sexual abuse and so, perhaps, was the way in which the courts viewed expert evidence. Unfortunately, the process does seem to be continuing and must, therefore, be appropriately documented.

Child sexual abuse allegations: Reliability of criteria-based content analysis.

Statement Validity Analysis (SVA), an assessment system for the credibility of children's allegations of sexual abuse, has recently undergone quantification and empirical testing. Twenty-three videotapes of investigative interviews of confirmed child sexual abuse victims were obtained for an interrater reliability analysis. Each tape was rated by two of four trained raters according to the criteria-based content analysis (CBCA) procedure of the SVA method. The average proportion agreement (.75) was equivalent to the value(.72) reported by Steller (1989), but the chance-corrected reliabilities of the CBCA criteria varied from moderate to low (Maxwell's RE coefficient of agreement range =−.22 to 1.00). The criteria need more explicit, behaviorally anchored definitions, and rater training needs to focus on the identified problem criteria. Potential limitations of interpretation include the small restricted sample, the use of uncontrolled community interviews, and the rating of videotapes rather than transcripts of the interviews.

Anatomically detailed dolls and the evaluation of child sexual abuse allegations: Psychometric considerations.

Although anatomically detailed dolls are becoming the most commonly used tool in the validation of sexual abuse allegations, their use is not without significant problems. This evaluation of the psychometric properties of the dolls using the existing empirical literature reveals that there is considerable difficulty in the standardization of the dolls, administration and scoring procedures, and training in the doll's use. Furthermore, appropriate norms have not been developed. Although good interobserver reliability has been reported, the construct and criterion-related validity has not been demonstrated consistently. The current lack of an empirically based psychometric foundation does not support the use of the dolls in validation interviews, nor the admissibility of doll-based evidence in legal proceedings.

Assumptions About Child Sexual Abuse Allegations at or About the Time of Divorce

No abstract available for this article.

Child Sexual Abuse Allegations Amidst Divorce and Custody Proceedings

This study describes 18 cases of child sexual abuse allegations investigaled by the Boulder County (Colorado) Sexual Abuse Team which revolved around divorce and custody disputes. Determining whether such allegations are reliable or fictitious presents a challenge to caseworkers who are apt to find themselves caught up in the highly charged atmosphere of divorce and custody proceedings. Initially, only 5.6% of the cases investigated were believed to be founded by the sexual abuse evaluation team. After applying the clinical process of validation used at the Kernpe Center in Denver. Colorado, the cases were subject to further review and categorized as follows: reliable accounts; recantations; unsubstantiated suspicions; insufficienl information; fictitious reports by adults; and fictitious reports by children. Subsequent to applying this clinical Drocess of validation. the number of cases categorized as founded hcreased to 44.4%. Application of a systematic process of validation by clinicians is suggested ...

Can We Accept the Acceptable?: Evidence and procedure in child sexual abuse cases in recent Australian law

In an earlier article (Bates, 1990), it was suggested that the test enunciated by the High Court of Australia in In the Marriage of M (1988) F.L.C. 91–979 for denying custody or access in cases where there had been allegations of child sexual abuse was inappropriate. In that case, it will be remembered, the High Court stated (at 77,081) that: To achieve a proper balance, the test is best expressed by saying that a court will not grant custody or access to a parent if that custody or access would expose the child to an unacceptable risk of sexual abuse.

Child sexual abuse allegations during custody litigation: Conflicts between mental health expert witnesses and the law

AbstractThis article describes (1) an intrafamilial child sexual abuse case and (2) the multidisciplinary research project which developed from its outcome. The research project., in existence since 1987, is a task force of the Committee an Children, Youth, and Families of the New Jersey Psychological Association and is co‐sponsored by the Committee on Child Psychiatry of the New Jersey Psychiatric Association. The research aims at developing an objective behavioral assessment instrument to validate child sexual abuse allegations, and at achieving a clinical‐legal consensus regarding the credibility of the instrument. Ranking, reliability, and validity studies are described.

Factors Contributing to False Allegations of Child Sexual Abuse in Custody Disputes

This paper describes the mechanisms and psychodynamics underlying the increasingly observed phenomenon of false or unsubstantiated allegations of child sexual abuse initiated during child custody disputes. Misinterpretation of normal caretaking practices involvmg physical or affectionate contact between parent and child during bathing, toileting, dressing, hugging, or kissing is often at the core of the abuse allegation. This article reviews a number of possible situations involving false allegations and the impact on the children and families involved.

The Use of Anatomical Dolls as Assessment and Evidentiary Tools

Anatomical dolls commonly are used to assess allegations of child sexual abuse. Such assessments are based largely on interviews with children and observations of how they play with and handle the dolls. Several recent court decisions have questioned the reliability and validity of anatomical dolls as an assessment and evidentiary tool. This article reviews the literature on the use of anatomical dolls and highlights issues concerning their diagnostic and forensic efficacy. The authors identify and discuss implications of the use of these dolls for social work practice and research.

Ritual abuse: A law enforcement view or perspective

ONE OF THE BASIC PROBLEMS of discussing or publishing artides about “ritualistic”’ abuse of children is how to precisely define it. After eight years of trying I have given up and prefer not to use the term, It is confusing, misleading, and counte~~ductive. The use of the word satanic is almost as confusing and certainly more emotional. I prefer the term multidimensional child sex ring. Not all ritualistic activity is spi~tually motivated. Not aH spiritually motivated ritualistic activity is satanic. In fact, most spiritually or religiously based abuse ofchitdren has nothingto do with satanism. Most child abuse that could be termed “ritualistic” by various definitions is more likely to be physical and psychological than sexual in nature. Not all ritualistic activity with a child is abuse or a crime. When a victim describes and investigation corroborates what sounds like ritualistic activity, several possibilities must be considered. The ritualistic activity may be part of the excessive religiosity of mentally disturbed, even psychotic offenders. It may be a misunderstood part of sexual ritualism. The ritualistic activity may be incidental to any real abuse. The offenders may be deliberately engaging in ritualistic activity with a child as part of child abuse and exploiration. The motivation, however, may be not to indoctrinate the child into a belief system, but to lower the inhibitions of, controf, manipulate, or confuse the child. To open the Pandora’s box of labeling child abuse as “ritualistic” means to apply the definition to all acts by all spiritual belief systems. There are many valid perspectives from which to assess and evaluate allegations of child sexual abuse. Parents may choose to believe simply because their children make the claims. The level of proof necessary may be minimal because the consequences of believing are within the family. A therapist may choose to believe simply because his/her professionai assessment is that the patient believes the victimization and describes it so vividly. The level of proof necessary may be no more than therapeutic evaluation because the consequences are between the therapist and patient. No independent corroboration may be required. A social worker must have more real, tangible evidence of abuse in order to take protective

Possible explanations for child sexual abuse allegations in divorce.

Based on a clinical sample of 136 cases, four classes of child sexual abuse cases in divorce are proposed: divorce precipitated by discovery of sexual abuse; long-standing sexual victimization revealed after marital breakup; sexual abuse precipitated by marital dissolution; and false allegations made during or after divorce. Implications for clinical practice are discussed.

Genitalia in human figure drawings: Childrearing practices and child sexual abuse

To replicate and explore the associations of drawing genitalia on a human figure, child-rearing practices, and a history of alleged sexual abuse, we designed a cross-sectional study of 109 alleged child sexual abuse victims, ages 3 through 8 years, and a group of 109 comparison children matched for age, sex, race, and socioeconomic status but with no history of abuse. A standardized format was used to collect drawings, administer the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, and gather background data on medical, developmental, and child-rearing issues. Seven alleged sexual abuse victims and one comparison child spontaneously drew genitalia (p = 0.02, one-tailed Fisher Exact Test, estimated relative risk 7.96). No differences in drawing maturity (Draw-A-Man score) were identified, although Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test scores were higher in comparison children (82.1 vs. 91.0, p less than 0.01). Neither drawing genitalia nor history of alleged sexual abuse were significantly associated with histories of medical problems, enuresis, encopresis, urinary tract infection, or child-rearing practices related to sleeping, nudity, bathing, sexual abuse education, or exposure to sexually explicit materials. The similar patterns of child-rearing practices in both samples should make professionals cautious in attributing allegations of abuse to specific child-rearing practices. This study confirms our previous report that the presence of genitalia spontaneously drawn on a child's drawing of a human figure is associated with alleged sexual abuse.

The role of the paediatric surgeon in alleged child sexual abuse

Two hundred ninety cases of alleged child sexual abuse (CSA) were reported in Edinburgh and the Lothian region over the 7-year period from 1982 through 1988. We have found an increase in the incidence of alleged CSA, which has resulted in greater involvement of the paediatric surgeon. CSA was found to be occurring with increasing frequency in younger children. The physical examination and the role of general anaesthesia are discussed together with the data about the collection of forensic material.

Alleged child abuse in custody access disputes

Child Abuse Allegations Child Custody Divorce Canada Child Sexual Abuse Allegations Domestic Violence Allegations Incest Allegations Sexual Assault Allegations

Child sexual abuse: a physician's introduction to historical and medical validation.

The investigation and validation of an allegation of child sexual abuse is difficult and time-consuming. In sexual abuse cases, the usual indications of physical maltreatment--bruises, abrasions, and lacerations--are generally not present. Thus, to adequately evaluate allegations of sexual abuse, the physician needs a different set of skills. In this paper, I present an introduction to the historical and medical validation of child abuse and provide a clinical approach to the child victim. This article will serve as an introduction to (1) understanding victimization and historical documentation, (2) preparing the child victim for an examination, (3) the forensic medical examination, (4) sexually transmitted diseases in victims and, (5) formulating a conclusion. The selected bibliography supplements this introduction.

Access and allegations of child sexual abuse: A consideration of the recent Australian decision in M v. M (1988) F.L.C. 91–979

Access and allegations of child sexual abuse: A consideration of the recent Australian decision in M v. M (1988) F.L.C. 91–979

The use of molecular hybridization techniques for human papillomavirus in the investigation of alleged child sexual abuse

Identification of human papillomavirus (HPV) subtypes can be extremely helpful in cases involving suspected child molestation. A case is described of a 15-month-old female referred for extensive perihymenal and perirectal verrucous lesions resembling condyloma acuminata. The only identified potential HPV donor was the mother who had a verrucous lesion on her hand with no prior history of genital condyloma. Both the child's and the mother's lesions were identified by light microscopy as human papillomavirus. Using DNA hybridization techniques, the child's lesions were identified as subtype 6. The mother's lesion was a nongenital type, most probably type 1 or 4. Thus, this ruled out the possibility that contact of the mother's hand lesion was the source of the child's perianal and genital lesions and led to further investigations of potential donors.

Clarifying erroneous child sexual abuse allegations.

A review of several hundred court cases involving child sexual abuse allegations has shown that both children and adults make false reports. Various kinds of false reports are defined, described, and grouped according to type: misunderstandings, misreporting, distortion through illness, distortion by design, professional error, misrepresentation, and a grouping of less common instances.

Child Sexual Abuse and the Family Court

This paper examines judicial decision‐making in the Family Court in custody and access disputes where allegations of child sexual abuse have been made. In seven cases examined judges took a sceptical view of such allegations and most commonly granted access in spite of strong evidence of abuse. The interpretation of the ‘best interests of the child’ often favoured continuing contact with both parents, and judges rarely denied access outright. Supervised access, the most common outcome, represents a compromise between familial ideology and child protection.