PERSONAL AND ATTITUDINAL VARIABLES THAT IMPACT DECISION-MAKING ON CHILD MALTREATMENT

A CHILEAN STUDY WITH PROFESSIONALS AND STUDENTS

Abstract

Decision-making in child protection is a complex task. In the Chilean welfare system, little is known about the protection decisions that impact boys and girls when their rights have been violated. Although there is international consensus that family-based alternative care is the most appropriate caregiving environment for young children without parental care, residential care is still widely used, and foster care has been promoted in the country but slowly. The objective of this study was to explore the variability and variables that impact the decision-making process in a suspected case of child maltreatment in Chile. The sample comprised child protection workers (n = 35) and undergraduate students (n = 177). Using a vignette approach, participants completed questionnaires about decision-making and their attitudes toward child protection systems. Personal and attitudinal variables seem to be impacting the decision-making process and evidence of disparity was found. Cluster analysis identified two groups according to their attitudes, one in favor of removal from home and the other against. In addition, the results indicated that there is variability in the decision to preserve or separate a child from her family and that personal characteristics, such as having children and gender, influence judgments and decisions. The results have implications for policy and practice in Chile when making decisions on child protection.