Sociaal Demografische Gegevens van Pedagogisch Medewerkers en Zorgconsulenten en Meldingen van Kindermishandeling bij Peuters

Abstract

The current study examined whether pedagogical staff (childcare workers and childcare health consultants, working at kindergartens) differed on socio-demographic data (age, education, neighborhood, job description, work experience and hours of employment) related to the number of reports of child abuse of toddlers. The aim of this study was to analyze the knowledge, skills and attitudes of pedagogical staff regarding the reports of child abuse. This is important, because earlier research has shown that child abuse has negative consequences for the health and development of children. According to the literature, a difference was expected between socio-demographic data and the number of reports of child abuse. Method. Pedagogical staff (n = 66) completed a questionnaire assessing socio-demographic data. The research question was examined using AN(C)OVA analyses. Results. Firstly, a significant difference was found between age and reporting child abuse, controlled for work experience, whereby older pedagogical staff reported more cases than younger pedagogical staff. Secondly, there was found a significant difference between job description and reporting child abuse, whereby childcare health consultants reported more cases than childcare workers. Education, neighborhood, work experience and hours of employment did not differ regarding the number of reports of child abuse. Conclusion. The current study has shown that not all socio-demographic data of pedagogical staff are meaningful in differences regarding the process of reporting child abuse. Further research is needed on this subject, because these findings are partly deviant from earlier research.