Private clinical psychologists’ role in evaluation and treatment of childhood sexual abuse: A mixed methods study

Background

Psychologists play a significant role in addressing sexual violence against children and adolescents (SVCA) in Brazil. Most literature focuses on the role of public service psychologists in the intervention, resulting in the need to explore the role private clinical psychologists’ (PCP) play in SVCA treatment.

Objective

The study aims to: 1) investigate a possible relationship between sociodemographic factors, professional profiles, beliefs about SVCA, and PCPs’ decision to report the abuse, and 2) understand the role PCPs play in evaluating, reporting, and treating cases of SVCA.

Participants and setting

The study sampled Brazilian PCPs. The quantitative phase consisted of 409 psychologists, and the qualitative phase consisted of 8 psychologists.

Methods

The study used a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design to achieve its goals. The quantitative phase consisted of the Sociodemographic and Professional Questionnaire, Scenario 7, and the Sexual Abuse Belief Scale (SABS) measures. The qualitative phase consisted of individual semi-structured interviews.

Results

The descriptive statistics and a binary logistic regression model illustrated factors increasing the likelihood of reporting SVCA by PCPs, including a history of treating confirmed sexual violence cases, taking a course on sexual violence, receiving SVCA information during undergraduate studies, having a master and doctoral degree, and having a single relationship status. The thematic analysis resulted in four themes: The definition of sexual violence, the selectivity of the cases, educational under-preparation, and the need to build a performance network.

Conclusion

PCPs require professional development to treatment SVCA, and schools of Psychology need to improve their curriculum regarding SVCA education.