The influence of confidentiality conditions on self-disclosure of early adolescents.

Abstract

The current study attempted to measure the effects of varying degrees of assurance of confidentiality on frequency of self-disclosure in a junior high school population. A selfdisclosure questionnaire was administered to 45 male and 45 female subjects. Male and female subjects were randomly divided into one of three treatment conditions: confidentiality explicitly assured, no instructions regarding confidentiality, and confidentiality explicitly not assured. A self-disclosure score was derived by summing the number of "true" responses to a 74-item questionnaire. Results did not support the main hypothesis. Across conditions, males were found to disclose significantly more frequently than females. Responses to a posttest questionnaire revealed significant overreporting of confidentiality instructions among males and females.The right to privacy or confidentiality not only is an ethical responsibility of therapists to their clients but more importantly is a fundamental human and legal right of all persons. Because successful therapeutic treatment depends on a client's ability to disclose personal, sensitive information, confidentiality must be assured.The right to confidentiality in the relationship between adult client and therapist is generally accepted. There is confusion, and perhaps less agreement, about the rights of the child in the therapeutic relationship. Some differences are derived from legal questions about the rights and competencies of minors (Foster & Freed, 1972;Glenn, 1980; "Parental Consent," 1975;Slovenko, 1978). Additionally, some therapists see the need for confidentiality with children as differing from that of adults. Ross (1966), for example, disputes the therapeutic necessity of blanket assurances of confidentiality for minor patients and thinks each case should be decided individually. Few empirical studies, however, have attempted to assess relationships between levels of assured confidentiality and outcome variables relevant to the therapeutic situation.

Mandatory Reporting and Child Exposure to Domestic Violence: Issues Regarding the Therapeutic Alliance with Couples

“…Henry and Margaret are typical both of the general public and of many mandated professionals who assume that outside of suicide and or physical violence towards children, their statements in therapy are confidential. Many, if not most clients enter therapy with the expectation and misperception that everything they say will be held in the strictest confidence (Kobocow et al 1983). The burden of explaining confidentiality and limits to confidentiality falls directly to the clinician.…”

A qualitative study of women’s views on medical confidentiality

“…Research has shown that patients who feel that their confidentiality is respected are more likely to seek treatment and comply with recommendations. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] Our study, one of the few to enquire directly of patients about their views of medical confidentiality, suggests that while there is considerable overlap between professional and legal definitions and patient views, there are also important differences.…”

“…Findings suggest, for example, that patients who believe that their privacy will be respected are more likely to seek treatment, discuss problems openly, and return for follow up care. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] In recognition of the importance of medical confidentiality to successful health outcomes, the US federal government recently adopted rules under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to include the first comprehensive protection for the privacy of health information in the USA. 14 The primary purpose of the HIPAA privacy rule has been to direct the creation of a system of rules, practices, and oversight to protect medical information.…”

Adolescents, Risk Behaviour and Confidentiality: When Would Australian Psychologists Breach Confidentiality to Disclose Information to Parents?

“…A survey of Melbourne high school students found that 98% of adolescents believed that confidentiality within a school counselling setting was either essential or important (Collins & Knowles, ). It has also been shown that the number of disclosures regarding sensitive questions is higher when confidentiality is explicitly assured by psychologists (Kobocow, McGuire, & Blau, ). Findings about the importance of confidentiality for young people have also been demonstrated extensively in the field of adolescent medicine (Farrant & Watson, ; Ford, Millstein, Halpern‐Felsher, & Irwin, ; Jones, Purcell, Singh, & Finer, ; Reddy, Fleming, & Swain, ; Thrall et al., ).…”