Methodological and Ethical Issues Related to Studying Child Maltreatment

1995 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 565-586 ◽  
Author(s):  
REBECCA R. S. SOCOLAR ◽  
DESMOND K. RUNYAN ◽  
LISA AMAYA-JACKSON
Keyword(s):  
Child Abuse ◽  
Child Maltreatment ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Child Abuse And Neglect ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Subject Recruitment ◽  
Abuse And Neglect ◽  
Ethical And Legal Issues ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Methodological Considerations

Research about child abuse and neglect is very complex methodologically and ethically. There are not yet uniform research definitions of the problem and the lack of prospective population-based research limits the ability to make progress. To date researchers have been reluctant to ask children directly about their maltreatment experiences because of perceptions of ethical and legal responsibilities. This article begins with a brief review of existing research about the scope and consequences of child abuse and neglect. We address methodological considerations that are especially pertinent to research about child maltreatment, including the definition of the problem, study design, and issues of causality and bias. We conclude with a discussion of ethical and legal issues that arise in the course of carrying out such research, including issues related to subject recruitment, informed consent, confidentiality, and reporting.

Risk Factors in Child Abuse and Neglect

2019 ◽  
pp. 75-94
Author(s):  
Lea Tufford
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Child Abuse ◽  
Child Maltreatment ◽  
Child Abuse And Neglect ◽  
Community Support ◽  
Environmental Situation ◽  
Abuse And Neglect

This chapter examines the risk factors for child abuse and neglect from the perspective of the child, parent, family, community, and culture. There are many issues that may contribute to child abuse, but some factors increase the risk to children and make them more vulnerable to abuse. They can be found in the background of parents, in the environmental situation, and in attributes of the child themselves. The child’s culture and level of community support may also be risk factors in child abuse and/or neglect. Risk factors are characteristics associated with child maltreatment and may or may not be direct causes.

What evidence is there that parenting interventions reduce child abuse and neglect among maltreating families? A systematic review

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 374-393
Author(s):  
Sarah Whitcombe-Dobbs ◽  
Michael Tarren-Sweeney
Keyword(s):  
Child Abuse ◽  
Child Maltreatment ◽  
Selection Criteria ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Child Abuse And Neglect ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Parenting Interventions ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Abuse And Neglect

In families where child abuse and neglect have already occurred, there is a strong imperative to provide interventions that reduce or eliminate harm done to children. Parenting programs lack tailoring for the needs of maltreating parents, and maltreating parents themselves are a heterogeneous group with varying needs. The literature on the effectiveness of parenting interventions for high-risk parents is limited, and this scarcity of knowledge can result in child protection cases being treated as a natural experiment. For children who experience ongoing maltreatment by their parents, the most stringent test for effectiveness goes beyond an improvement in positive parenting skills—child abuse and neglect must reduce or be eliminated. The present review addressed the research question What evidence is there that parenting interventions conducted with parents who maltreat their children, reduce the incidence of further child maltreatment? Databases were searched for trials of parenting interventions where participants were maltreating parents and outcome data included an objective measure of child abuse and neglect. Nine studies satisfied the selection criteria and are summarized. Four studies reported a statistically significant difference between groups in favor of the intervention group for two parenting interventions, Parent–Child Interaction Therapy and SafeCare. However, the review concludes that none of the reviewed parenting interventions have been demonstrated to be effective at reducing all types of child maltreatment through a high-quality RCT. Previous research is compromised by several critical methodological limitations, including low participant recruitment and retention, and narrow selection criteria. Recommendations are offered for future research on parenting interventions that aim to reduce child abuse and neglect.

Continuing toward an operational definition of psychological maltreatment

1991 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas Barnett ◽  
Jody Todd Manly ◽  
Dante Cicchetti
Keyword(s):  
Child Abuse ◽  
Child Abuse And Neglect ◽  
Operational Definition ◽  
Psychological Maltreatment ◽  
Abuse And Neglect ◽  
Assessment Techniques ◽  
Definition Of

More than any other subtype of abuse and neglect, psychological maltreatment offers a number of unique challenges to theoreticians and researchers. Although progress has been made, contention still remains over the definition of psychological maltreatment and its relation to other forms of child abuse and neglect (Brassard, Germain, & Hart, 1987; Garbarino, Guttmann, & Seeley, 1986). Thus, the definition and operationalization of psychological maltreatment continue to be important issues that require further research and explanation. In fact, the development of standardized definitions and assessment techniques for all forms of maltreatment is crucial to increase communication across laboratories, and across disciplines.

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