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Predicting suggestive questioning from cognitions and emotions about child sexual abuse across three study paradigms.

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Title: Predicting suggestive questioning from cognitions and emotions about child sexual abuse across three study paradigms.
Authors: Gewehr, Elsa (AUTHOR), Merschhemke, Marie (AUTHOR), Pülschen, Simone (AUTHOR), Pülschen, Dietrich (AUTHOR), Volbert, Renate (AUTHOR)
Source: Legal & Criminological Psychology. Sep2026, Vol. 31 Issue 2, p566-594. 29p.
Subjects: Child sexual abuse, Interviewers, Statistical bias, Attitude (Psychology)
Abstract: Purpose: Although interviews are individual in nature, and suggestiveness is a major pitfall when questioning children, individual differences in interviewer bias and suggestiveness remain understudied. We assessed relationships between Cognitions and Emotions about Child Sexual Abuse (CECSA) with suggestive questioning and bias across three mock case studies and a meta‐analytical integration. Methods: In all studies, participants filled in the scales of the CECSA questionnaire (Naive Confidence, Emotional Reactivity and Justice System Distrust) and read mock cases about children displaying unspecific behavioural symptoms, potentially triggering sexual abuse suspicions. In Study 1, 285 human sciences students further read interview transcripts and selected questions suitable to pose to the children. In Study 2, 241 police students read interview transcripts and freely formulated questions to pose to the children. In Study 3, 148 teaching students interviewed virtual children using natural language in a virtual reality simulation. Participants in Studies 1 and 2 additionally rated the abuse likelihood for the children with unspecific symptoms, whereby high ratings indicated biased mindsets. Results: Across three studies and their meta‐analytical integration, we found substantial evidence that higher Naive Confidence and Emotional Reactivity but not Justice System Distrust scores significantly relate to stronger bias and suggestive questioning (b =.14–.37). The newly developed measures to assess suggestive questioning validly captured a unidimensional trait of suggestive questioning but showed unsatisfying reliability. Conclusions: The findings enhance our understanding of individual differences in suggestive questioning and bias and can inform the development, customisation and evaluation of interviewer training programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Legal & Criminological Psychology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Predicting suggestive questioning from cognitions and emotions about child sexual abuse across three study paradigms.
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  Label: Authors
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gewehr%2C+Elsa%22">Gewehr, Elsa</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Merschhemke%2C+Marie%22">Merschhemke, Marie</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Pülschen%2C+Simone%22">Pülschen, Simone</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Pülschen%2C+Dietrich%22">Pülschen, Dietrich</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Volbert%2C+Renate%22">Volbert, Renate</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Legal+%26+Criminological+Psychology%22">Legal & Criminological Psychology</searchLink>. Sep2026, Vol. 31 Issue 2, p566-594. 29p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+sexual+abuse%22">Child sexual abuse</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interviewers%22">Interviewers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Statistical+bias%22">Statistical bias</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Attitude+%28Psychology%29%22">Attitude (Psychology)</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Purpose: Although interviews are individual in nature, and suggestiveness is a major pitfall when questioning children, individual differences in interviewer bias and suggestiveness remain understudied. We assessed relationships between Cognitions and Emotions about Child Sexual Abuse (CECSA) with suggestive questioning and bias across three mock case studies and a meta‐analytical integration. Methods: In all studies, participants filled in the scales of the CECSA questionnaire (Naive Confidence, Emotional Reactivity and Justice System Distrust) and read mock cases about children displaying unspecific behavioural symptoms, potentially triggering sexual abuse suspicions. In Study 1, 285 human sciences students further read interview transcripts and selected questions suitable to pose to the children. In Study 2, 241 police students read interview transcripts and freely formulated questions to pose to the children. In Study 3, 148 teaching students interviewed virtual children using natural language in a virtual reality simulation. Participants in Studies 1 and 2 additionally rated the abuse likelihood for the children with unspecific symptoms, whereby high ratings indicated biased mindsets. Results: Across three studies and their meta‐analytical integration, we found substantial evidence that higher Naive Confidence and Emotional Reactivity but not Justice System Distrust scores significantly relate to stronger bias and suggestive questioning (b =.14–.37). The newly developed measures to assess suggestive questioning validly captured a unidimensional trait of suggestive questioning but showed unsatisfying reliability. Conclusions: The findings enhance our understanding of individual differences in suggestive questioning and bias and can inform the development, customisation and evaluation of interviewer training programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Legal & Criminological Psychology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.1111/lcrp.70012
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        Text: English
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        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Interviewers
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      – SubjectFull: Statistical bias
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      – SubjectFull: Attitude (Psychology)
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              M: 09
              Text: Sep2026
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              Y: 2026
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