Child Protective Service Workers' Ratings of Likely Emotional Trauma to Child Sexual Abuse Victims

Abstract

One hundred fifty-four child welfare workers were asked to rate the likely emotional trauma to victims of child sexual abuse. Each caseworker rated twelve scenarios in which the child victim was sexually assaulted by another child. Ratings were made on a scale of 1 (low risk of emotional trauma) to 10 (high risk of emotional trauma). The research literature suggests that these caseworkers' assessments of the example cases were uniformly incorrect. One out of every three caseworkers either over- or underrated the likelihood of emotional trauma in no less than eight of the scenarios. One in five of the caseworkers over or under rated all twelve of the scenarios. The inconsistencies revealed in this preliminary study suggest that a more refined study of caseworkers' assessment of trauma is needed. Also training must be developed for caseworkers and community professionals who assess emotional trauma in the course of developing treatment and caseplans.