title: Child abuser stereotypes: consensus among clinicians.
abstract: This article reports the results of an investigation of nurses' stereotypes of child abusers. Ninety-four registered nurses completed a questionnaire that measured subjects' knowledge of child abuse; professional contact with perpetrators and victims of abuse; knowledge of the causes of child abuse; and child abuser stereotypes. Results reveal a consensus among the subjects as to the stereotypes associated with child abusers. This study supports the notion that nurses stereotype individuals on the basis of demographic characteristics. This study also raises questions regarding the bias that may result from the use of child abuser stereotypes. Clinical decision-making processes could become compromised if biased judgements are used in planning nursing care for clients diagnosed as child abusers.
authors.forename: H V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Krowchuk
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D006801:Humans; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D013240:Stereotyping; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires