Mandatory Reporting and Clinician Decision-Making When a Client Discloses Sexual Interest in Children

Many individuals with sexual interest in children express a desire for mental health services but represent an underserved client population. An identified barrier to service provision is mandatory reporting legislation, which requires clinicians to report when they learn of a child who has been, or is at risk of being, sexually abused. We conducted a vignette study to examine the factors that would influence mandatory reporting decision-making when a client discloses sexual interest in children. We recruited a convenience sample of 309 Canadian registered mental health clinicians and student trainees who completed several questionnaires. Clinicians were randomized to one of nine vignettes that were crossed on two situational factors (use of child sexual exploitation material and access to children). The results of the multivariate analysis suggested that stigma towards people with sexual interest in children was associated with an increased likelihood of reporting. Clinicians were more likely to indicate that they would report the hypothetical client was viewing child sexual exploitation material and/or had access to children. These findings are discussed within the context of improving service provision to the underserved population of people with sexual interest in children.

Automated summary

The study found that stigma towards individuals with sexual interest in children may influence clinicians' mandatory reporting decision-making, with clinicians more likely to report hypothetical clients who were viewing child sexual exploitation material and/or had access to children. This highlights the need to address biases in order to improve service provision for this underserved population.