Sexual Abuse Forensic Evaluation With Young Children: Program Outcomes and Predictors of Disclosure

Abstract

Some victims of child sexual abuse are at risk for nondisclosure in forensic interviews, whether by reason of questioning technique, developmental capacity, or socioemotional constraints. The current study examines (1) 47 complex cases referred for sexual abuse forensic evaluation following an inconclusive investigation where a high index of suspicion remained, and (2) the degree to which a range of variables predicted disclosure. Content analysis of interviews revealed that nearly half of the children provided a disclosure of abuse. Logistic regression analysis showed that age and caregiver response predicted disclosure, accounting for 38% of the variance. Findings support the utility of multi-interview protocols for the subset of children who, due to developmental or motivational impediments, require more than one opportunity to report their experiences.