Re: Childhood abuse and social work studies

["Mike Freel" <mike.freel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I have a paper due to be published looking at gender and a sexual
interest in children in child care workers.  The study included
questions about a history of childhood sexual abuse.  A self-administer
questionnaire was given to a sample of 92 female and 91 male public
sector child care workers. The sample comprised predominantly social
work managers, social workers, residential workers, and foster carers. 
At least 30% of the sample would have had a social work qualification. 
Females (20%) were more than twice as likely as males (8%) to report
childhood sexual abuse. 

There are debates about the prevalence of childhood sexual abuse but
these findings are broadly in line with other research and do not
suggest a significant association between studying (or doing) social
work and childhood sexual abuse (although this was not the focus of the
study).  Gorey and Leslie (1997) provide a useful review about
prevalence rates across a number of studies taking into account
methodological issues.


Freel, M (in press) 'Child sexual abuse and the male monopoly: an
empirical exploration of gender and a sexual interest in children',
British Journal of Social Work

Gorey, K. M., and Leslie, D. R. (1997) 'The prevalence of child sexual
abuse: integrative review adjustment for potential response and
measurement biases', Child Abuse and Neglect, 21:391-398


Mike Freel, PhD
Principal officer, child protection & review unit          
Westfields, Westfields Road, Mirfield, WF14 9PW, England
tel +44 (0)1924 483741          
e-mail: mike.freel@kirklees.gov.uk