The Stability of Child Abuse Reports: a Longitudinal Study of the Reporting Behaviour of Young Adults

The aims of this study were to use longitudinal report data on physical & sexual abuse to examine the stability & consistency of abuse reports. The study was based on the birth cohort of young people studied in the Christchurch Health & Development Study. At ages 18 & 21, these young people were questioned about their childhood exposure to physical punishment & sexual abuse. They were also assessed on measures of psychiatric disorders & suicidal behaviour. Those reporting sexual abuse or regular physical punishment had an increased relative risk of suicide ideation & suicide attempts. Results indicated a substantial unreliability in the reporting of child abuse. The source of this unreliability & the consequences of it are discussed in detail. (49 refs.)