Peer-reviewed article

Friends and safeguarding: Young people's views about safety and to whom they would share safety concerns

Douglas Hugh Russell, Daryl John Higgins · 2 May 2023

Summary

Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001

This study surveyed over 3,400 young people aged 10–18 in Australia about whether they would disclose safety concerns to others after viewing hypothetical unsafe scenarios. Most young people said they would tell someone about concerning behaviour from adults (83.9%) or peers (79.3%), with mothers being the most commonly trusted person. However, children in out-of-home care and community welfare organisations were less likely to disclose concerns about peer behaviour than those in other settings.

Key points

83.9% of young people said they would disclose concerns about unsafe adult behaviour; 79.3% would disclose peer-related concerns
Mothers were the most frequently named trusted person across both scenarios (68.7% for adult concerns, 63.1% for peer concerns)
Friends were identified as trusted confidants by 64.4% for adult concerns and 57.9% for peer concerns
Girls and older children were more likely to tell a friend about concerns
Young people in out-of-home care and community welfare organisations showed lower disclosure rates for peer-related safety concerns

Limitations

The study uses hypothetical scenarios rather than actual disclosures, so stated intentions may not reflect real behaviour. The research does not examine what happens after young people disclose or whether trusted adults respond appropriately to concerns.

Abstract

Abstract Child sexual abuse prevention strategies typically focus on teaching children ‘protective behaviours’, including telling a ‘trusted adult’. However, disclosure rates are low, and we know little about who they tell. We analysed data from over 3400 young people aged 10–18. After viewing hypothetical unsafe scenarios involving either an adult or peer, participants were asked whether – and whom – they would tell someone if such a situation occurred. Most (83.9 per cent) said they would tell someone about concerns involving an adult; fewer (79.3 per cent) would tell if they encountered an unsafe situation with a peer. Across adult and peer scenarios, participants were most likely to say they would approach their mother (about concerning behaviour of an adult, 68.7 per cent; or a peer, 63.1 per cent), a friend (64.4; 57.9 per cent) or their father (52.2; 48.9 per cent). Those most likely to tell a friend were girls and older children. Children in out‐of‐home care and community welfare organisations were less likely to tell someone about concerning behaviour from a peer/friend than in other organisational contexts. Although organisations must train staff in supporting young people who raise concerns or make disclosures, it is vital to consider the role of parents and other young people in hearing about concerns and building their capacity to respond appropriately.

Findings the Hub has extracted

Each claim below is labelled by its type of design and links back to this report.

ProtectionParticipation

Problem

Low disclosure rates in child sexual abuse prevention despite interventions that teach children to tell trusted adults; lack of evidence about whom children actually disclose to

Intervention: Survey of young people's willingness to disclose safety concerns after exposure to hypothetical unsafe scenarios involving adults or peers
Population: 3,400+ young people aged 10–18 in Australia, including those in mainstream settings, out-of-home care, and community welfare organisations

Key finding

83.9% of young people said they would disclose adult-related safety concerns; 79.3% would disclose peer-related concerns

Practitioner