This study examines the experiences of Swedish adolescents regarding the disclosure of maltreatment and the support they perceive from adults. It reveals that a significant proportion of maltreated adolescents lack adult confidants, with disclosure often directed towards peers rather than adults, primarily due to trust issues and inadequate professional support. The findings highlight the critical need for enhanced adult involvement and effective intervention strategies to assist affected children.

1. Perceived adult support and disclosure of
maltreatment among Swedish adolescents
Carolina Jernbro, Gabriel Otterman, Ylva Tindberg, Staffan Janson
BASPCAN Congress
2015-04-15
Carolina Jernbro
Karlstad University, Institution for Health Sciences

2. The Swedish context
• A child welfare state
• Law against corporal punishment in 1979
Children have the right to a good upbringing. Children shall be
treated with respect and shall not be subjected to corporal
punishment or any other humiliating treatment (Parental Code)
Carolina Jernbro
Karlstad University, Institution for Health Sciences

3. Definition of child maltreatment
Child maltreatment is when an adult subjects a
child to physical, psychological or sexual abuse,
humiliating treatment or fails to meet the
child’s basic needs
(The Swedish Committee against Child Abuse and Related Issues,
2001)
Carolina Jernbro
Karlstad University, Institution for Health Sciences

4. Physical abuse
(17.7%)
Severe
Neglect
(2.4%) Psychological maltreatment
(10.9%)
Witnessing intimate
partner violence
(6.4%)
Prevalence of child maltreatment in
Sweden
Carolina Jernbro
Karlstad University, Institution for Health Sciences
Based on the national
survey of child
maltreatment 2011
(N=3202)

5. Aim
%
%
The main aim of this study was to examine the
experiences of disclosure and perceived social
support among adolescents reporting child
maltreatment.
Carolina Jernbro
Karlstad University, Institution for Health Sciences

6. Method
Carolina Jernbro
Karlstad University, Institution for Health Sciences
• Swedish national survey on child maltreatment carried out among ninth
grade school children, 15-16 years of age, in 2011
• 92 randomly chosen schools from all regions in Sweden and a total of 158
classes chose to participate
• In total 3,202 adolescents answered the questionnaire (84% response
rate)
• Mixed methods - Descriptive quantitative analysis and qualitative content
analysis of 65 free text responses

7. Lack of adult confidants
Carolina Jernbro, Karlstad University,
Institution for Health Sciences
• 30 percent of adolescents reporting any child maltreatment
lacked an adult confidant compared to 12 percent among the
non-maltreated (p<0.001)
• Among the adolescents reporting severe physical abuse, 41
percent lacked an adult confidant (p<0.001)

8. Disclosure among
severely physically abused
To whom have you disclosed the physical abuse?
% (n) among the
severely physically
abused (n=179)
Sibling/friend/boyfriend/girlfriend 37.5 (66)
Parent/close relative 18.2 (32)
Staff within school, social services or police 11.4 (20)
Children’s Rights in Society (an NGO working for
the rights of the child)
9.7 (17)
Carolina Jernbro, Karlstad University,
Institution for Health Sciences
• 52 percent of the severely physically abused have
disclosed the abuse

9. The experience of disclosure
and support
Carolina Jernbro, Karlstad University,
Institution for Health Sciences
Barriers to disclosure Inadequate adult response Supportive interventions
Loyalty towards parents Lack of child perspective Support from school social
worker or child psychiatry
Lack of trust in adults or
professionals
Insufficient evidence Support initiated by CPS
Fear of being disbelieved Inaccessible CPS and police
force
Conviction of Perpetrator
Hopelessness Reluctance to act
Self-blame
Normalisation of maltreating
behaviour

10. ”Sometimes I do stupid things like raising my voice
at my parents or yell at them. One time in April
(2011) I was slapped hard in the face by my father. I
lost my hearing. I have not told my mom and dad
that I have lost my hearing because I do not want
them to feel bad”
Carolina Jernbro, Karlstad University,
Institution for Health Sciences

11. “I have told the CPS that my father drinks and
that he becomes really mad - but they do
nothing. They only think that he is right“
Carolina Jernbro, Karlstad University,
Institution for Health Sciences

12. ”I often visit a social worker at school. Had it not
been for her, I probably would have been dead
by now”
Carolina Jernbro, Karlstad University,
Institution for Health Sciences

13. Conclusions and practice implications
• Adolescents who report child maltreatment lack adult confidants to a greater
extent than non-maltreated children
• Adolescents choose to disclosure abuse to peers or siblings is more common than
to adults. The main reason appears to be lack of trust in adults and
professionals/authorities
• Many children who have disclosed abuse to professionals experience lack of
adequate support or intervention
• Proper professional support can make a huge difference in a child’s life
• An outspoken child perspective can be of importance to gain
children’s trust
Carolina Jernbro, Karlstad University,
Institution for Health Sciences