Integrating Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Strategies into Youth‐Serving Organizations

Kaufman, Keith L.; Sitney, Miranda; Zatkin, Judith; McConnell, Erin; Glace, Alyssa M.

doi:10.1002/9781119439325.ch26

Cited by 4 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 31 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Finally, it is important to note that 60% of these theories focus either at the individual (42%) or interpersonal (18%) level. While there will always be strategic reasons to focus prevention at these levels (e.g., the benefits of individual safety skills enhancement [Mountjoy et al, 2015] or bystander intervention [Moynihan et al, 2010]), the greater promise of prevention is at the organizational, community and, societal levels (Kaufman et al, 2019; Kaufman et al, 2020; Offord, 2000; Rogers et al, 2010). Future research should focus on the development and applications of sport safety prevention initiatives that have wider impacts to increase preventions’ reach and to ensure its cost-effectiveness.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Theory in the Prevention of Sexual Violence in Sport

Kaufman

Lee²,

Milroy

et al. 2022

J Interpers Violence

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Sexual violence (SV) remains at epidemic proportions in the U.S. and growing evidence demonstrates that youth and adults engaged in sport are at increased risk of victimization and perpetration of SV. Unfortunately, sport SV prevention strategies are rarely built on theory or theoretically grounded evidence, despite demonstrated effectiveness of such approaches. This study aimed to answer to questions: 1) Which theories are relevant to the development of effective SV prevention strategies in sport?; and 2) How has theory been incorporated into existing SV prevention literature on sport safety? A scoping review of the literature plus expert input identified 29 theories pertinent to SV prevention in sport. A systemized review of the literature regarding SV prevention in sport resulted in the identification and characterization of 41 published articles. Authors then examined theory’s role in prevention literature. This study identified 29 theories pertinent to SV prevention in sports and applicable across the behavioral spectrum. Most theories were rooted in the Behavioral (41%), Situational (24%) or Social/Attitudinal (21%) areas. Less common were theories grounded in Feminist (14%) domains. Theories were predominantly focused at the individual (42%), organizational (29%), and interpersonal (18%) ecological levels. Of the 41 sport prevention articles, 33 (83%) referred to a theory either explicitly or implicitly. Though most theories have been incorporated into prevention efforts, closer examination indicates that the majority were descriptive, unlikely to use a sophisticated methodology (10%; e.g., experimental, quasi-experimental), and rarely intended to assess a specific prevention program/strategy or policy (21%). Strong theoretical foundations are available for SV prevention research focused on sports, and their application appears to show value across the developmental spectrum of athletes. There remains a need for greater focus on theory-driven research intended to develop prevention strategies and policies designed to enhance athlete safety.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Theory in the Prevention of Sexual Violence in Sport

Kaufman

Lee²,

Milroy

et al. 2022

J Interpers Violence

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…A review of three of the 17 RCA Final Reports (2017b, c, d) identified nearly 60 myths, stereotypes and/or biases about CSA of those who perpetrate the abuse; those who experience the abuse; how institutions are perceived; and the way certain roles are viewed. The reports highlighted myths and stereotypes about gender, race, age, disability, sexual orientation and social status that could impact the disclosure and prevention of CSA (see Kaufman et al, 2016 and RCA Final Reports, 2017c, 2017d for full list of myths and stereotypes). For example, stereotypes of men as sexual perpetrators and women as maternal can prevent the identification or detection of female sexual abusers (Denov, 2003; O'Connor, 2008).…”

Section: Stereotypes and Unconscious Bias And Csamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, media portrayals of sex offenders depict them as strangers in white vans lurking behind bushes (DiBennardo, 2018; Jeglic & Calkins, 2018). However, in reality, only 7 per cent of all CSA is committed by a stranger, and research has shown that there is no typical profile of an adult who sexually abuses a child they can come from all racial and ethnic backgrounds, all socioeconomic strata, including professionals such as doctors, coaches, educators and members of the clergy (CDC, 2021; Davies & Rogers, 2009; Jeglic & Calkins, 2018; Kaufman et al, 2016; RCA Final Report, 2017d).…”

Section: Stereotypes and Unconscious Bias And Csamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While the precise number of cases of CSA involving child‐serving institutions is not clear, the substantial number of child abuse cases occurring in educational, welfare, recreational, sporting, health, religious, and residential or out‐of‐home care settings has been a shameful reality for many years (Blakemore et al, 2017; McNeish & Scott, 2018). Child‐serving institutions comprise ‘any public or private body, agency, association, club or institution that provides activities, facilities, programs or services of any kind to children’ under the age of 18 (Kaufman et al, 2016, p. 48). Institutional child abuse has devastating consequences and long‐term psychological, health, relational, social, educational and economic impacts on survivors (Blakemore et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Stereotypes and unconscious bias in institutional child sexual abuse: Barriers to identification, reporting and prevention

Arnold,

Jeglic

2024

Child Abuse Review

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Child sexual abuse within institutional settings has been a major concern for governments around the world for many years. Consequently, prevention policies have been developed, and institutional child abuse laws have been strengthened in many jurisdictions. Legislation is important to prevent reoffending, however, the majority of childhood sexual abuse remains unreported and undetected. While awareness of the failings of institutions to properly identify and respond to child abuse has grown in recent years, barriers to reporting institutional abuse remain understudied, impacting the ability to prevent abuse. One possible reason that prevents workers from identifying and reporting child sexual abuse is that their judgements are vulnerable to stereotypes and unconscious biases about who perpetrates and is victimised by sexual crimes and what constitutes warning signs of sexually abusive behaviours. Research in psychology provides key insights into human reasoning processes that can lead to bias, so workers fail to identify, respond and prevent grooming and child abuse in an organisational context. This paper reviews what is known about the development and maintenance of stereotypes and unconscious bias, their role in institutional sexual abuse, and concludes with a discussion of measures that can be taken to mitigate unconscious bias to prevent child abuse.

show abstract

“…Problematic beliefs and poor practices associated with risk factors in religious institutions have been identified in numerous studies (Dale & Alpert, 2007; Doyle et al, 2006; Higgins, 2002; Higgins & McCabe, 1994; Irenyi et al, 2006; Kaufman et al, 2016; Rashid & Barron, 2022) leading to attempts to improve safeguarding (Harder & Wilder, 2021). However, the perspectives of children and young people are absent from this literature and may provide an alternative point of view.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Safeguarding in Church: Children and Young People’s Perceptions of Safety in Religious and Other Faith-Based Settings

Russell

Stewart

Higgins

2022

J Interpers Violence

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Organizations that interact with children and young people have a duty of care to ensure the safety of those children and young people from any manner of abuse, particularly from child sexual abuse. Faith-based (“religious”) organizations are of particular interest due to the number of victims/survivors speaking out about their experiences of grooming, child sexual abuse, and other forms of harm in religious organizations. Focusing on addressing the risks and improving safeguarding efforts, prevention activities benefit from giving children agency and a voice. We conducted a study using two focus groups with children and young people involved with two different Christian denominations. We conducted activities and led discussions regarding their views about safety in the context of the faith-based organization with which they engage. Children and young people described different potentially unsafe situations, their likely frequency, and the level of impact such situations would have from their own point of view. They also described how they thought adults in their faith-based organization would see them. Thematic analysis of the data supported four themes related to young people’s sense of safety: concerning behavior of adults and other young people, fear of judgment by others (adults and peers), sense of or lack of empowerment due to power dynamics, and the importance of a sense of “familiarity.” Visual comparisons of the data on scatterplots suggested differences not only in the level of impact and frequency of potentially unsafe situations between young people and adults but also between the two denominations. Children and young people can provide a wealth of information regarding their safety concerns when involved in programs and services at faith-based organizations. Clergy and other faith-based organizational leaders should consider how the context in which young people are involved (including interdenominational and interfaith difference, as well as the diverse types of activities young people are involved with) can affect their safety concerns.

show abstract

Integrating Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Strategies into Youth‐Serving Organizations

Cited by 4 publications

References 31 publications

The Role of Theory in the Prevention of Sexual Violence in Sport

The Role of Theory in the Prevention of Sexual Violence in Sport

Stereotypes and unconscious bias in institutional child sexual abuse: Barriers to identification, reporting and prevention

Safeguarding in Church: Children and Young People’s Perceptions of Safety in Religious and Other Faith-Based Settings

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About