Interviewing Abused and Traumatized Children

Abstract

Interviewing young traumatized children, particularly those traumatized by physical and sexual abuse, is difficult, not only because of children's recall deficiencies, but more often because standard interviewing formats can be ineffective with economically disadvantaged and culturally different children. Economically disadvantaged children's exposure to different family interaction patterns and control-dominated childrearing styles can affect their ability to respond to both verbal and non-verbal interviewing techniques. In addition, normal children's familiarity with the material to be remembered, their motivation to remember, their cognitive style and their communication skill all influence interview outcomes. Suggestions are included for improving non-leading interview methods with young children using both verbal and non-verbal techniques.

Finding Keys: A Systematic Review of Barriers and Facilitators for Refugee Children’s Disclosure of Their Life Stories

“…Research on the situation of recently arrived refugee children in the host country shows that they have experienced a large number of stressful life events which put them at risk to face post-traumatic stress, depression, and anxiety disorders (van Os, Kalverboer, Zijlstra, Post, & Knorth, 2016). From literature about abused children, it is known that those who suffered from traumatic experiences often have difficulties disclosing their life stories to others (Anderson, Anderson, & Gilgun, 2014;Leander, 2010;Mordock, 2001;Saywitz, Lyon, & Goodman, 2011). Interviewers of traumatized refugee children can be confronted with the same difficulties as forensic interviewers who speak with abused children.…”

Denial of Child Maltreatment Histories among Male Adolescent Offenders

“…Some studies emphasize that the reason for children to deny their CAN histories is due to the interview techniques (London et al 2005). Studies have also suggested open-ended and non-directive questions when interviewing with children who have CAN histories (Mordock 2001).…”

Diagnosing child sex abuse: A research challenge.

“…Young children may come to belie ve that because they are asked the same questions repeatedly, their original answers were not correct and they should provide a different response. If so, changes in children's answers, resulting from the social demands of the interview situation, may negatively affect the consistency and accuracy of their reports (Mordock, 2001).…”