Social Service Professionals’ Perceptions of Nonoffending Caregivers in Child Sexual Abuse Cases

Abstract

This study was designed to assess social service workers’ perceptions of nonoffending caregivers in cases of child sexual abuse. Attributions of blame were examined by administering questionnaires to staff at local social service agencies. It was hypothesized that social service workers who worked in the field longer, were male, or had less education would attribute more blame to the nonoffending caregivers. The findings revealed that respondent gender was the only significant predictor of blame attribution toward nonoffending caregivers, with level of education approaching significance as a predictor. There was no relationship between attribution of blame and years in job. The findings have important contributions for informing the practice of social service professionals who work with families of child sexual abuse.

Keywords:

• maltreatment
• mothers
• families
• blame
• protective investigator

Notes

This research was conducted as part of a doctoral research project. The authors would like to thank all members of the research team and doctoral committee who supported and reviewed this study.