The Impact of Mandatory Reporting Legislation on New Zealand Secondary School Students’ Attitudes Towards Disclosure of Child Abuse

International Journal of Children’s Rights 23 (2015) 491-528

60 Pages Posted: 13 Jun 2017

See all articles by Deborah Lawson

Deborah Lawson

University of Otago - Faculty of Law

Brian Niven

University of Otago

Date Written: June 8, 2014

Abstract

Few studies have sought the views of children and young people in relation to child abuse reporting laws and policies, including mandatory reporting of child abuse. This study sought to determine whether mandatory reporting legislation would have an impact on secondary school students’ attitudes towards: (a) disclosing abuse to a teacher or school counsellor; and (b) attending school, if they had been obviously physically abused. A stratified random sample of 466 secondary school students in two New Zealand provinces answered nine questions in response to an in-class written survey. Results indicated that the introduction of mandatory reporting legislation in New Zealand would deter secondary students from disclosing abuse to teachers and school counsellors. Further, the introduction of mandatory reporting laws might deter students from attending school if they had been obviously physically abused.

Keywords: child abuse; young people’s views; disclosure; mandatory reporting

Suggested Citation

Lawson, Deborah and Niven, Brian, The Impact of Mandatory Reporting Legislation on New Zealand Secondary School Students’ Attitudes Towards Disclosure of Child Abuse (June 8, 2014). International Journal of Children’s Rights 23 (2015) 491-528, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2983571

Deborah Lawson (Contact Author)

University of Otago - Faculty of Law ( email )

PO Box 56
Dunedin North
Dunedin, 9016
New Zealand

Brian Niven

University of Otago ( email )

P.O. Box 56
Dunedin, Otago 9010
New Zealand

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