Mental Health Providers and Child Sexual Abuse

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Abstract
This study examined the sexual abuse reporting tendencies of Mental Health Providers (MHPs). The Crenshaw Abuse Reported Survey (CARS-M; Crenshaw, 1990) was completed by 452 Kansas MHPs. Descriptive statistics, discriminant analyses and chi-squares yielded the following results: (a) knowledge of and support for reporting laws was nearly uniform across respondents; (b) reporting tendency differed across MHP profession and gender on scenarios of suspected and known sexual abuse; and (c) reporting tendencies were predicted with 82% to 92% accuracy for each scenario, using a linear composite of decisional items. The data suggest tha both Reporters and Non-Reporters are doing what they believe to be in the best interest of their clients. The principal differences between the groups are the way in which they interpret their roles as professionals within a broader legal context and how they execute the treatment of their clients within this context.

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