ABSTRACT

This study examined the recorded interviews of 132 children between 3 and 16-years of age who were involved in a forensic investigation evaluating allegations of sexual and/or physical abuse. As part of this investigation, two interviews were conducted over a 5-day period. The interviews were analyzed to examine how frequently these children disclosed substantiated allegations of abuse when asked directly about these experiences in one or both interviews. Results revealed that 39.2% of children with substantiated sexual abuse and 55.6% of those with substantiated physical abuse denied these experiences in one or both interviews. The denial rate was highest among school aged children (6- to-10-year- olds), as over a third of the girls and more than half of the boys in this age group denied the substantiated allegations in one or both interviews. Recantations were also relatively common, as 24% of the children who disclosed sexual and/or physical abuse prior to the assessment denied the allegations in one or both interviews. The youngest children (3- to 5-year-olds) were most likely to be inconsistent in their denials/disclosures across interviews. Custody status and relation to the perpetrator also predicted denials/disclosures of sexual, but not physical abuse. Overall, the data suggest that denials of both sexual and physical abuse are quite common and higher than rates found in most archival file reviews.

摘要

本研究调查了 132 名年龄在 3 至 16 岁之间的儿童的访谈记录，他们参与了评估性虐待和/或身体虐待指控的法医调查。作为调查的一部分，在 5 天内进行了两次访谈。对访谈进行了分析，以检查在一次或两次访谈中直接询问这些经历时，这些儿童披露经证实的虐待指控的频率。结果显示，在一次或两次采访中，39.2% 的被证实的性虐待儿童和 55.6% 的被证实的身体虐待儿童否认了这些经历。学龄儿童（6 至 10 岁）的否认率最高，因为该年龄组中超过三分之一的女孩和超过一半的男孩在一次或两次采访中否认了经证实的指控。忏悔也相对普遍，因为在评估前披露性虐待和/或身体虐待的儿童中有 24% 在一次或两次采访中否认了这些指控。年龄最小的孩子（3 到 5 岁）最有可能在采访中的否认/披露不一致。监护状态和与肇事者的关系也预示着对性虐待的否认/披露，但不是身体虐待。总体而言，数据表明，对性虐待和身体虐待的否认相当普遍，而且高于大多数档案文件审查中发现的比率。年龄最小的孩子（3 到 5 岁）最有可能在采访中的否认/披露不一致。监护状态和与肇事者的关系也预示着对性虐待的否认/披露，但不是身体虐待。总体而言，数据表明，对性虐待和身体虐待的否认相当普遍，而且高于大多数档案文件审查中发现的比率。年龄最小的孩子（3 到 5 岁）最有可能在采访中的否认/披露不一致。监护状态和与肇事者的关系也预示着对性虐待的否认/披露，但不是身体虐待。总体而言，数据表明，对性虐待和身体虐待的否认相当普遍，而且高于大多数档案文件审查中发现的比率。