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Helpingstine CE, Jadue Zalaquett VC, Murphy CA, Merrick MT, Fickler W, Bernier J, Klika JB. Prevention of child sexual abuse in the United States: Scoping review of United States legislative policies. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2024; 152:106747. [PMID: 38552558 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND States in the United States (US) have passed and enacted legislation for the purpose of preventing child sexual abuse (CSA) since 2000, but it is unknown whether these legislative policies reduce adult-perpetrated CSA. OBJECTIVE Review the literature from 2000 to 2023 to understand which US CSA prevention policies have been evaluated, the effectiveness of these policies, study populations, and barriers and facilitators associated with the implementation of CSA prevention policies. METHODS The study protocol was published prior to undertaking the review: PMC10603531. The review follows Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and is reported according to the PRISMA-ScR Checklist. We searched 27 databases, hand searched reference lists of included studies, and sent notice via listserv to other researchers in the field. Articles were included if the content focused on CSA prevention policies and the effects. No limits to methodology were applied. Methodological rigor was assessed. RESULTS 2209 potentially relevant articles were identified; 20 articles advanced to full-text review, three satisfied the inclusion criteria. Three eligible studies focused on CSA prevention education policies, while the other focused on mandated reporting policies. Effects of these policies were mixed in relation to CSA reporting and substantiation rates. No study considered child demographics. CONCLUSIONS Despite decades of legislative action for CSA prevention across the US, only a few studies have assessed the effects of these policies. These findings highlight the need for additional research to ensure that CSA prevention policies such as CSA prevention education in schools and mandated reporting practices are working as intended.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Wade Fickler
- National Conference of State Legislatures, United States
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Helpingstine CE, Murphy CA, Bernier J, Crane K, Klika JB. Child Sexual Abuse in the United States: A Commentary on Current Policy Approaches to Prevention and Aspirations for the Future. JOURNAL OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE 2024:1-14. [PMID: 38193750 DOI: 10.1080/10538712.2023.2300701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a significant threat to the health and well-being of children in the United States (US). Public policies are a key public health strategy for the primary prevention of violence, including CSA. In 2021, the Enough Abuse Campaign and Prevent Child Abuse America published a comprehensive report entitled A Call to Action for Policymakers and Advocates: Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Legislation in the States to encourage state leaders to create a comprehensive strategy to prevent CSA in the US. Findings from the report show that the nation has made some effort to address CSA, but more focus needs to be given to primary prevention strategies that stop it from occurring in the first place. The report also illustrates the variability of CSA prevention policies across the US and highlights critical gaps in current approaches that must be addressed. In the spirit of the special issue, the authors reflect on key policy issues in the field, including the lack of a federal policy framework for CSA prevention, dedicated funding for the prevention of CSA, and research on the effectiveness of policies intended to prevent CSA. Suggestions for future directions in relation to policy development provided in this commentary will be useful to a variety of stakeholders interested in the topic of CSA prevention policy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jetta Bernier
- Massachusetts Citizens for Children, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kelly Crane
- Prevent Child Abuse America, Chicago, IL, USA
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Helpingstine CE, Murphy CA, Merrick MT, Klika JB. Prevention of child sexual abuse in the USA: a scoping review protocol of US legislative policies. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e073182. [PMID: 37857546 PMCID: PMC10603531 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-073182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Child sexual abuse (CSA) poses a significant threat to the health and well-being of children in the USA and globally. Many states have introduced or implemented policies to address and prevent CSA, but little research has linked the effects of this legislation on the reduction of adult-perpetrated CSA. The objective of this scoping review is to identify US policies which aim to prevent CSA, explain the components of these types of legislation, review evidence of effectiveness, describe the populations included in the literature, and identify barriers and facilitators to the implementation of said policies. METHODS AND ANALYSIS This scoping review will follow Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews and will use the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews Checklist. Sources of peer-reviewed evidence from January 2000 to July 2023 will be included. Relevant publications will first be searched in PubMed/MEDLINE database, then 25 other databases. The reference lists of included studies and high-yield journals will be hand searched. Articles which focus on the types of CSA prevention policies and their effects will be included. Studies must clearly demonstrate a connection between policies and CSA outcomes. Title, abstract, full-text screening and extraction will be completed by a team of three researchers. Critical appraisal of the included studies will be performed. Extracted data will be displayed in tabular form and a narrative summary will describe the results of the review. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION This scoping review will provide an extensive overview of legislative policies which aim to prevent CSA in the USA. Results of this review will inform future CSA prevention policies in the USA, particularly regarding policy development, evaluation and implementation. Results will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Catherine A Murphy
- Research Department, Prevent Child Abuse America, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Melissa T Merrick
- Research Department, Prevent Child Abuse America, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - J Bart Klika
- Research Department, Prevent Child Abuse America, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Rochford HI, Zeiger KD, Peek-Asa C. State-level education policies: Opportunities for secondary prevention of child maltreatment. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2023; 136:106018. [PMID: 36630852 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.106018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to child maltreatment creates risk for adverse social, health, and economic outcomes across generations. The socioecological model posits the well-being of individuals, including children and youth, is shaped by the larger systems they exist in. Employing state-level policies to position school settings to effectively identify and intervene in instances of child maltreatment is an important secondary prevention opportunity. OBJECTIVE This study examines the relationship between state-level policies that call for school based trainings to promote the recognition of and response to child maltreatment, and states' annual rates of substantiated child maltreatment reports. METHODS Relevant policies were identified and abstracted to generate measures of policy presence and comprehensiveness. The National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System was used to derive rates of substantiated child maltreatment reports by state and year. Child maltreatment rates were the dependent variable and policy measures were the primary explanatory variables in a difference-in-differences (DD) model series with state-level clustering and year-fixed effects. RESULTS The DD model series suggest significant, positive relationships between the presence of policies calling for school-based recognition and response training and child abuse (IRR 1.140, p = 0.04) as well as child physical abuse outcomes (IRR 1.150, p = 0.05). Sensitivity analyses suggest the relationships between policy presence and abuse outcomes were stronger for children than for adolescents. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that related policies may be effective secondary prevention tools for child maltreatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah I Rochford
- Injury Prevention Research Center, 2190 Westlawn, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States; Department of Health Management and Policy, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 145 N. Riverside Drive, Room N273, Iowa City 52242, United States.
| | - Kalen D Zeiger
- Department of Psychological and Quantitative Foundations, College of Education, University of Iowa, 361 Lindquist Center, Iowa City, 52242, United States; Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 145 N. Riverside Drive, Room S143, Iowa City 52242, United States; LGBTQ Counseling Clinic, , University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States
| | - Corinne Peek-Asa
- Injury Prevention Research Center, 2190 Westlawn, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States; Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 145 N. Riverside Drive, Room S143, Iowa City 52242, United States
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Kim S, Kim TE, Nickerson A. The Longitudinal Effects of Second Step Child Protection Unit on Children: Gender as a Moderator. JOURNAL OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE 2023; 32:74-90. [PMID: 36617737 DOI: 10.1080/10538712.2022.2154729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the longitudinal effects of the Second Step Child Protection Unit (CPU; Committee for Children) on student outcomes through a randomized controlled trial. Eight schools with a total sample including 2,031 students were assigned randomly to the CPU intervention or the wait-list control condition. We employed a multi-process latent growth model using a structural equation modeling framework which simultaneously analyzed student outcome growth via the effects of the intervention. The moderating effect of gender was also included. Over four data collection waves (pretest, posttest, follow-up [6 months] and follow-up [12-months]), the intervention group students were better able to recognize appropriate requests in CSA scenarios than control group students over time. Teacher-student relations improved for the students in the intervention schools but worsened for the students in the control schools over time. Despite concerns that CSA prevention programs may result in the unintended consequence of making children more fearful, children in both conditions did not show increased fears over time. The longitudinal effect on CSA recognition was more pronounced among girls, who suffer from higher CSA prevalence, compared with boys. Implications for prevention, policy, and directions for future research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunha Kim
- Department of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology and University at Buffalo The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Tia E Kim
- Committee for Children and Seattle, Was, USA
| | - Amanda Nickerson
- Department of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology and University at Buffalo The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
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Kenny MC, Prikhidko A. Mothers Attitudes Toward Child Sexual Abuse Prevention in Schools: A Preliminary Examination. JOURNAL OF CHILD & ADOLESCENT TRAUMA 2022; 15:297-306. [PMID: 35600520 PMCID: PMC9120317 DOI: 10.1007/s40653-021-00361-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Providing school-based child sexual abuse (CSA) prevention programs ensures that the majority of children will participate in programming. Since many parents may feel ill equipped to have such discussions with their children, programs offered in education settings can bring awareness to this issue. A sample of mothers (N = 268) from across the United States completed an online survey related to their experiences with and attitudes toward school-based CSA prevention programs. Most mothers (70%) had no exposure to prevention programs during their childhood, but the majority (95%) had a positive attitude toward programming for their children. Most mothers believed that offering CSA prevention in schools was important and could provide a safety net. Mothers desired programming that was age appropriate, involved parents and was activity based. These results can help inform schools' prevention programming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maureen C. Kenny
- Department of Counseling, Recreation and School Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199 USA
| | - Alena Prikhidko
- Department of Counseling, Recreation and School Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199 USA
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Kenny MC, Helpingstine C, Long H. College students' recollections of childhood sexual abuse prevention programs and their potential impact on reduction of sexual victimization. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2020; 104:104486. [PMID: 32294564 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2019] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Child sexual abuse prevention programs are offered in many schools globally, but research is scant on whether or not these programs actually decrease the rates of CSA among youth who participate in them. OBJECTIVE This study sought to determine if participation in a CSA prevention program (based on participant recall), in the US or another country, led to lower rates of self-reported past victimization among youth, affected disclosure and effects on sexual satisfaction. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING One thousand five hundred and two students from an ethnically and racially diverse university in the southeast served as participants. METHODS Participants completed measures on line (Qualtrics). This included demographic information and participation in CSA prevention programs in schools, concepts that were covered, and recollections of sexual victimization. The second measure was a revised version of the sexual satisfaction scale (Derogatis Sexual Functioning Inventory). RESULTS Students who had not participated in a CSA prevention program were significantly more likely to be abused than those who did participate, regardless of the program or location (χ2 (1,1498) = 19.01, p < .001). Those participating in programs in the US were more likely to disclose abuse than those participating in the programs in other countries (χ2 (1,212) = 5.49, p = .019). No significant difference was found between those who participated in prevention programming and those who did not on sexual satisfaction (χ2 (1,1469) = 1.76, p = .184). CONCLUSION These results highlight the importance of universal CSA prevention programs in schools worldwide as one part of comprehensive prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maureen C Kenny
- Florida International University, Department of Counseling, Recreation and School Psychology, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199, United States.
| | - Claire Helpingstine
- Florida International University, Department of Psychology, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199, United States
| | - Haiying Long
- Florida International University, Department of Counseling, Recreation and School Psychology, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199, United States
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Joyce A, Green C, Kearney S, Leung L, Ollis D. Alignment and political will: upscaling an Australian respectful relationships program. Health Promot Int 2020; 34:892-901. [PMID: 29850904 DOI: 10.1093/heapro/day034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Many small scale efficacious programs and interventions need to be 'scaled-up' in order to reach a larger population. Although it has been argued that interventions deemed suitable for upscaling need to have demonstrated effectiveness, be able to be implemented cost-effectively and be accepted by intended recipients, these factors alone are insufficient in explaining which programs are adopted more broadly. Upscaling research often identifies political will as a key factor in explaining whether programs are supported and up-scaled, but this research lacks any depth into how political will is formed and has not applied policy theories to understanding the upscaling process. This article uses a political science lens to examine the key factors in the upscaling process of a Respectful Relationships in Schools Program. Focus groups and interviews were conducted with project staff, managers and community organizations involved in the program. The results reveal how a key focusing event related to a highly profiled personal tragedy propelled family violence into the national spotlight. At the same time, the organization leading the respectful relationships program leveraged their networks to position the program within the education department which enabled the government to quickly respond to the issue. The study highlights that political will is not a stand-alone factor as depicted by up-scaling models, but rather is the end point of a complex process that involves many elements including the establishment of networks and aligned programs that can capitalize when opportunities arise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Joyce
- Centre for Social Impact Swinburne, Faculty of Business & Law, Swinburne University of Technology, Mail H23, Cnr John and Wakefield Streets, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia
| | - Celia Green
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health (NCEPH), Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra ACT, Australia
| | | | | | - Debbie Ollis
- School of Education, Faculty of Arts and Education, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC, Australia
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Jin Y, Chen J, Jiang Y, Yu B. Evaluation of a sexual abuse prevention education program for school-age children in China: a comparison of teachers and parents as instructors. HEALTH EDUCATION RESEARCH 2017; 32:364-373. [PMID: 28854573 DOI: 10.1093/her/cyx047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2016] [Accepted: 06/13/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a child sexual abuse (CSA) prevention curriculum toward children and to compare the knowledge gains between children who were taught by teachers and their parents. Four hundred and eighty-four school-age children recruited from one primary school in Beijing, China, were randomly assigned to a CSA prevention program administered by teachers or their parents or to a wait-list control group. The findings reveal that children in the teacher education group demonstrated the highest level of CSA prevention knowledge and skills, followed by the parent education group, while children in the control group showed the least improvements. The knowledge and skills gains were retained at a 12-week follow-up. The present study shows that Chinese school-age children can benefit from CSA prevention program with increased knowledge and skills of personal safety. School-based CSA prevention education should be improved and implemented in other regions of China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Jin
- Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, China
| | - J Chen
- Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Y Jiang
- Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, China
| | - B Yu
- Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, China
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