Keywords

Confidential communications, Student counselors, Psychotherapist and patient

Abstract

Children between the ages of 6 and 15 years were interviewed using a questionnaire designed to assess their conception of confidentiality in the counseling experience. This questionnaire was based upon the stipulates for confidentiality outlined in the 1977 American Psychological Association's Code of Ethics. Children age 6 to 8 years scored significantly lower on the questionnaire than children age 12 to 15 years. Neither of these groups' scores were significantly different from the score of children age 9 to 11 years, yet the total mean scores increased as the age of the children in the groups increased. These results suggest that children gradually evolve a conception of confidentiality consistent with professional guidelines. Four variables were examined which were expected to grossly predict the child's total score on the questionnaire. Chi-square analysis did not reveal significant differences for the variables of perceived adequacy of explanation of confidentiality and attitude toward breaking a secret. For the two variables involving the children's perception of the maintenance/violation of their confidentiality, chi-square analysis did reveal significant differences (which were not, however, found using a one-way analysis of variance procedure). Some demographic variables were found to be significantly related to scores on the questionnaire, yet most of the relationships involved specific area scores rather than total scores.

Notes

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Graduation Date

1978

Advisor

McGuire, John M.

Degree

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Social Sciences

Degree Program

Community Psychology

Format

PDF

Pages

92 p.

Language

English

Rights

Public Domain

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Masters Thesis (Open Access)

Identifier

DP0013424

Subjects

Confidential communications -- Student counselors, Psychotherapist and patient

Contributor (Linked data)

John M. McGuire (Q59421427)

Collection (Linked data)

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Accessibility Status

Searchable text

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