NEW ARTICLE: PhD Fellow Mathea Loen and Professor Marit Skivenes have published a study on child protection, examining how individuals’ values around responsibility, certainty, and child rights influence their support for state intervention in potential child protection cases. The study, published in the Journal of European Social Policy, analyzes data from over 6000 people across Norway, Finland, England, Poland, Romania, and Czechia.
The research addresses a key question: when is it appropriate for the state to intervene in the private lives of families to protect children? Using representative samples from these six countries, the study tests two main factors: whether individuals’ core values explain their willingness to support state interventions, and how institutional contexts shape the differences between countries.
The findings indicate that individuals who perceive higher levels of parental responsibility, accept interventions despite some uncertainty regarding evidence, and hold strong beliefs in child rights are more likely to support stronger state intervention to protect children, states Loen.
– The study revealed strongly diverging opinions among respondents on the uncertainty variable. This highlights a significant split between those favoring intervention even when unsure of the risk and those more cautious, preferring to avoid intervention unless completely certain, states Loen.
Loen and Skivenes highlight that overall, people in these countries are largely supportive of child protection measures, and their findings align with existing research on welfare states and child protection systems. The study contributes to a growing understanding of how personal values influence public opinion on welfare policies and state responsibilities.
Gaps in Existing Knowledge
While the study expands on current research, it also identifies gaps in the literature on public views about child protection, particularly regarding cross-country comparisons. The analysis shows that there is generally strong support for child protection interventions, with the exception of Czechia, where opinions are more divided.
– Despite cultural and policy differences between Eastern and Western Europe, public support for protecting children’s rights is strong, notes Professor Skivenes.
Implications for Policy and Future Research
The authors stress that these findings provide valuable insights for policymakers and decision-makers involved in child protection. Understanding the role of personal values in shaping opinions on state intervention could inform future policies and practices, especially when balancing the rights of children and parents. The study also underscores the need for further research into how different welfare models and child protection systems impact public opinion.
This article is a part of the Legitimacy Challenges project. It is open access and can be found here.