Factors that impact the reporting of child abuse

The earlier child abuse is reported and stopped, the sooner a victim is able to begin processing their trauma, something that has seemed to help mitigate lifelong consequences of abuse in some cases. A study in the Netherlands sought to investigate what went into the decision-making process of deciding to report suspected abuse or to not report. Researchers conducted interviews with 49 professionals who work in the fields of mental health care, childcare, as well as school settings. The study found that many of the professionals reported the lack of intentional focus on signs of child abuse, what indicative signs are, and how to properly communicate their concerns with a child to be influential factors in deciding whether or not to report. Professionals in the study regarded the use of structured instruments to detect signs of child abuse to be extremely useful, but most said they are rarely used.

Gubbels, J., Assink, M., Prinzie, P., & Van Der Put, C. (2021). Why healthcare and education professionals underreport suspicions of child abuse: A

qualitative study. Social Sciences 10(3). https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/10/3/98/htm#