Psychosocial perceptions of child neglect in Mexico

Identifier:  TFG:10202

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TFG10202

Authors:  Vargas Leyva, María Fernanda

Abstract:
This exploratory cross-sectional study analyzed the perceptions of 320 Mexican adults regarding situations where children lack protection, using vignettes depicting familial neglect, institutional neglect, economic exploitation, and risks faced by adolescents. The results reveal high exposure to such situations but a low rate of formal reporting—a pattern consistent with the bystander model. While judgments regarding severity and normalization varied significantly depending on the scenario, expectations regarding the institutional response remained stable and were positively associated with general institutional trust. These findings suggest that systemic mistrust inhibits reporting, thereby hindering the translation of citizen detection into effective protection.