Survey shows few think child abuse is a serious problem

(Harrisburg) — A recent survey shows few people in Pennsylvania think child abuse and neglect are serious problems, and the findings concern child advocates.

17 percent of those surveyed say the problem is serious. It was slightly higher among mandated reporters, 23 percent of them think it’s serious.

The survey, from the Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance, was conducted by Franklin and Marshall College’s Center for Opinion Research.

It also finds about a quarter of those required by law to report abuse don’t know how to do so.

Angela Liddle is the Executive Director of the group and says the survey responses really exposed the problem.

“A fair amount of people, whom we listened to in focus groups and talked with throughout the state, really have a hard time identifying child abuse. They don’t understand what our law says about it and there’s a lot of ambiguity about what is actually abuse and what is poor parenting.”

The survey also found that those who attend training geared towards recognizing child abuse are more likely to report abuse. But that can go both ways.

“People who had been kicked, and punched, and slapped, bloody noses, talked to in pretty horrific, threatening manners, few of them ever considered themselves to be abused as children,” says Little. (She spoke on a recent Smart Talk).

People are also more likely to report it when they believe it’s a serious problem, or if they’ve experienced it themselves.

Liddle says while the Jerry Sandusky case raised awareness about child abuse generally, it also focused on child sex abuse.

She says abuse can be physical or mental too, and many don’t recognize that.