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Article
12. Caregiver support and child sexual abuse: Why does it matter?
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse (2006)
  • Lindsay C. Malloy, University of California, Irvine
  • Thomas D. Lyon, University of Southern California
Abstract
Coohey’s paper is a valuable investigation of the substantiation of mothers for failure to protect their children from child sexual abuse (CSA). Drawing on concerns regarding the possible inconsistency of decisions to substantiate, the author sought to determine the factors relied on by CPS investigators in the decision-making process. Multivariate analyses revealed the importance of maternal reactions to abuse, including whether the mother believed the child’s allegations and whether she acted in a protective or supportive manner. We will put Coohey’s findings in the context of other research that has documented the importance of nonoffending caregivers’ reactions to sexual abuse. It is understandable that social workers consider the non-offending caregiver’s reactions to the abuse as a means of assessing the child’s family, because of the importance of caregiver belief and support in ensuring the child’s future safety and wellbeing. However, we would emphasize that caregiver supportiveness is not a static quality that is simply subject to measurement but a dynamic quality that may be susceptible to intervention.
Keywords
  • child witness,
  • caregiver support,
  • child sex abuse,
  • child neglect
Publication Date
March, 2006
Citation Information
Malloy, L. C., & Lyon, T. D. (2006). Caregiver support and child sexual abuse: Why does it matter? Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 15, 97-103. doi:10.1300/J070v15n04_06