Journal Articles

The list of journal articles below is arranged in three thematic groups, and in chronological order within each group with the most recent publications listed first. Publications are also arranged alphabetically by surname of the lead author. All articles are open access and freely available at the weblinks. This list will be periodically updated to add references to new publications.

The three thematic groups are:

1. Main findings on the national prevalence of child maltreatment, and the associations between child maltreatment and mental health, health risk behaviours, and health service utilisation.
2. Other articles on the nature and characteristics of child maltreatment, other associated outcomes of maltreatment, and other significant topics considered by the ACMS.
3. Articles on approach and methodology.

Main findings on the national prevalence of child maltreatment, and the associations between child maltreatment and mental health, health risk behaviours, and health service utilisation

These five articles are the foundational works generated by the ACMS about the national prevalence of child maltreatment, and its associated health outcomes. They were published together in the MJA Supplement, which can be downloaded as a single comprehensive resource. Alternatively, specific articles can be accessed individually.

Higgins, D. J., Mathews, B., Pacella, R. E., Scott, J. G., Finkelhor, D., Meinck, F., Erskine, H. E., Thomas, H. J., Lawrence, D. M., Haslam, D. M., Malacova, E., & Dunne, M. P. (2023). The prevalence and nature of multi-type child maltreatment in Australia. Medical Journal of Australia, 218 (6 Suppl): S19-S25. http://dx.doi.org/10.5694/mja2.51868

Lawrence, D. M., Hunt, A., Mathews, B., Haslam, D. M., Malacova, E., Dunne, M. P., Erskine, H. E., Higgins, D. J., Finkelhor, D., Pacella, R. E., Meinck, F., Thomas, H. J., & Scott, J. G. (2023). Association between child maltreatment and health risk behaviours and conditions throughout life: The Australian Child Maltreatment Study. Medical Journal of Australia, 218 (6 Suppl): S34-S39. http://dx.doi.org/10.5694/mja2.51877

Mathews, B., Pacella, R. E., Scott, J. G., Finkelhor, D., Meinck, F., Higgins, D. J., Erskine, H. E., Thomas, H. J., Lawrence, D. M., Haslam, D. M., Malacova, E., & Dunne, M. P. (2023). The prevalence of child maltreatment in Australia: findings from a national survey. Medical Journal of Australia, 218 (6 Suppl): S13-S18. http://dx.doi.org/10.5694/mja2.51873

Pacella, R. E., Nation A, Mathews, B., Scott, J. G., Higgins, D. J., Haslam, D. M., Dunne, M. P.,  Finkelhor, D., Meinck, F., Erskine, H. E., Thomas, H. J., Malacova, E., Lawrence, D. M., & Monks C. (2023). Child maltreatment and health service utilisation: findings from the Australian Child Maltreatment Study. Medical Journal of Australia, 218 (6 Suppl): S40-S46. http://dx.doi.org/10.5694/mja2.51892

Scott, J. G., Malacova, E., Mathews, B., Haslam, D. M., Pacella, R. E., Higgins, D. J., Meinck, F., Dunne, M. P., Finkelhor, D., Erskine, H. E., Lawrence, D. M., & Thomas, H. J. (2023). The association between child maltreatment and mental disorders in the Australian Child Maltreatment Study. Medical Journal of Australia, 218 (6 Suppl): S26-S33. http://dx.doi.org/10.5694/mja2.51870

Other articles on the nature and characteristics of child maltreatment, other associated outcomes of maltreatment, and other significant topics considered by the ACMS

These articles consider important topics for science, policy, and practice. Each article was carefully designed to contribute important evidence to major gaps in knowledge, and to help generate new scientific understandings and inform enhanced policy and practice.

Harrris, L. G., Higgins, D. J., Willis, M. L., Lawrence, D., Mathews, B., Thomas, H. J., Malacova, E.,  Pacella, R., Scott, J., Finkelhor, D., Meinck, F., Erskine, H., & Haslam, D. (2024). The prevalence and patterns of maltreatment and mental health disorders in an Australian out-of-home care- experienced sample. Child Maltreatment (in press). https://doi.org/10.1177/10775595241246534

Haslam, D., Malacova, E., Lawrence, D., Higgins, D., Meinck, F., Mathews, B., Havighurst, S., Pacella, R., Erskine, H., Thomas, H., Scott, J., Finkelhor, D. (2024). The prevalence of corporal punishment in Australia: findings from a nationally representative survey. Australian Journal of Social Issues, 59(3), 580-604. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajs4.301

Higgins, D. J., Lawrence, D., Haslam, D. M., Mathews, B., Malacova, E., Erskine, H. E., Finkelhor, D., Pacella, R., Meinck, F., Thomas, H. J., & Scott, J. G. (2024). Prevalence of diverse genders and sexualities in Australia and associations with five forms of child maltreatment and multi-type maltreatment. Child Maltreatment, in press, https://doi.org/10.1177/1077559523122633

Higgins, D. J., & Mathews, B. (2024). Research engagement and impact: The Australian Child Maltreatment Study and pathways to evidence-based policy and practice. Children Australia, 46(1), 3012. https://childrenaustralia.org.au/journal/article/3012/

Hunt, G., Mathews, B., Higgins, D., Finkelhor, D., Willis, M., Haslam, D., Lawrence, D., Meinck, F., Thomas, H., Malacova, E., Pacella, R., & Scott, J. (2024). The prevalence of child sexual abuse perpetrated by leaders or other adults in religious organizations in Australia. Child Abuse & Neglect, 155, 106946. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106946

Hunt, G., Higgins, D. J., Willis, M. L., Mathews, B., Lawrence, D., Meinck, F., Pacella, R., Thomas, H. J., Scott, J. G., Erskine, H. E., Finkelhor, D., Malacova, E., Haslam, D. M. (2024). The prevalence of peer sexual harassment in childhood in Australia. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, in press, accepted 19 March. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605241245368

Madzoska, M., Lawrence, D., Higgins, D., Haslam, D., Mathews, B., Malacova, E., Dunne, M., Erskine, H., Pacella, R., Meinck, F., Thomas, H.,& Scott, J. (2024). Child maltreatment, mental health disorders and health risk behaviors in people with diverse gender identities. Journal of Interpersonal Violence (in press, accepted).

Mathews, B. (2024). The Australian Child Maltreatment Study: National prevalence and associated health outcomes of child abuse and neglect. Letter in reply. Medical Journal of Australia, 220(5), 275-275. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.52231

Mathews, B., Finkelhor, D., Pacella, R., Scott, J. G., Higgins, D. J., Meinck, F., Erskine, H. E., Thomas, H. J., Lawrence, D., Malacova, E., Haslam, D. M., & Collin-Vézina, D. (2024). Child sexual abuse by different classes and types of perpetrator: Prevalence and trends from an Australian national survey. Child Abuse & Neglect, 147, 106562. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106562

Mathews, B., Papalia, N., Napier, S., Malacova, E., Lawrence, D., Higgins, D. J., Thomas, H. J., Erskine, H. E., Meinck, F., Haslam, D. M., Scott, J. G., Finkelhor, D,. Pacella, R. E. (2023). Child maltreatment and criminal justice system involvement in Australia: Findings from a national survey. Trends and Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice, No. 681. Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology. https://doi.org/10.52922/ti77215

Mathews, B., Thomas, H. J., & Scott, J. G. (2023). A new era in child maltreatment prevention: Call to action. Medical Journal of Australia, 218 (6 Suppl): S47-S51. http://dx.doi.org/10.5694/mja2.51872

Scott, J. G., & Mathews, B.  (2023). Introducing the Australian Child Maltreatment Study: Baseline evidence for a national public health challenge. Medical Journal of Australia, 218 (6 Suppl), S3-S4. http://dx.doi.org/10.5694/mja2.51867

Articles on approach and methodology

Epidemiological surveys of child maltreatment are exceptionally complex, and require a rigorous and ethical approach to all aspects of the work. The approach and methodology of the ACMS was carefully planned over many years, and involved detailed, multidisciplinary research and analysis. We published significant articles on multiple different aspects of our approach and methodology.

Mathews, B. (2023). Adolescent capacity to consent to participate in research: A review and analysis informed by law, human rights, ethics, and developmental science. Laws, 12(2), https://doi.org/10.3390/laws12010002

Haslam DM, Lawrence DM, Mathews B, Higgins DJ, Hunt A, Scott JG, Dunne MP, Erskine HE, Thomas HJ, Finkelhor D, Pacella R, Meinck F, Malacova E. (2023). Methodology of the Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS): A national survey of the prevalence of child maltreatment and its correlates. Medical Journal of Australia, 218 (6 Suppl): S5-S12. http://dx.doi.org/10.5694/mja2.51869

Mathews, B., Meinck, F., Erskine, H., Tran, N., Le, H., Kellard, K., Pacella, R., Scott, J. G., Finkelhor, D., Higgins, D. J., Thomas, H., & Haslam, D. (2023). Adaptation and validation of the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire-R2 for a national study of child maltreatment in Australia. Child Abuse & Neglect, 139, 106093, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106093

Mathews, B. (2022). Legal duties of researchers to protect participants in child maltreatment surveys: Advancing legal epidemiology. University of New South Wales Law Journal, 45(2), 722-763. https://doi.org/10.53637/OAKC2052

Mathews, B., MacMillan, H. L., Meinck, F., Finkelhor, D., Haslam, D., Tonmyr, L., Gonzalez, A., Afifi, T. O., Scott, J. G., Pacella, R. E., Higgins, D., Thomas, H., Collin-Vézina, D., & Walsh, K. (2022). The ethics of child maltreatment surveys in relation to participant distress: Implications of social science evidence, ethical guidelines, and law. Child Abuse & Neglect, 123, 105424. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105424

Mathews, B. (2021). Duties to report child sexual offences: A new era in Australian criminal law. Canberra Law Review, 18(2), 54-81. http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/journals/CanLawRw//2021/13.html

Mathews, B., Pacella, R., Dunne, M., Scott, J., Finkelhor, D., Meinck, F., Higgins, D., Erskine, H., Thomas, H., Haslam, D., Tran, N., Le, H., Honey, N., Kellard, K., & Lawrence, D. (2021). The Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS): Protocol for a national survey of the prevalence of child abuse and neglect, associated mental disorders and physical health problems, and burden of disease. BMJ Open, 11(5) e047074. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047074

Mathews, B., Pacella, R., Dunne, M., Simunovic, M., & Marston, C. (2020). Improving measurement of child abuse and neglect: a systematic review and analysis of national prevalence studies. PLoS ONE, 15(1): e0227884. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0227884

Mathews, B., & Collin-Vézina, D. (2019). Child Sexual Abuse: Toward a Conceptual Model and Definition. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 20(2), 131-148. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838017738726