scholarly journals Assessing the Relational Nature of Child Physical Abuse and Neglect Among 12-Year-Old Girls

Author(s):  
Corrine Ann Dale

Child maltreatment is a historical and current problem in the United States. Children are exposed to physical abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse in alarming numbers. In 2014, state agencies found an estimated 702,000 victims of child maltreatment. With two thirds of this group representing child neglect victims, research studies and effective interventions are needed for this group in particular. This study examined the relational nature of child neglect versus child physical abuse. The sample population consisted of 68 girls aged 12 years old at the Midwest site of the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect research project. The secondary analysis was completed with descriptive, correlational, and multiple regression analyses. The results of the analysis revealed the mother–child relationship was significantly related to the presence of neglect and was significantly related to the presence of physical abuse. Peer relationships were not found to be significantly related to the presence of neglect or physical abuse. In the multiple-regression analysis, child neglect versus child physical abuse was more predictive of a negative mother–child relationship. Of note, the outcomes of the study lead to a better understanding of the need for relational interventions in treating victims of child abuse and neglect, as well as the relational nature of abuse and neglect demand interventions that focus on the victim and the caregiver/perpetrator. Such interventions can only result in socially and emotionally connected individuals, improving the functioning of the adolescent and the future adult.

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 67-82
Author(s):  
O. Ezenwaji Ifeyinwa ◽  
Okwun Ethel Ncheta

The study focused on child abuse and neglect on pupils’ academic achievement in primary schools. The ex-post facto design was adopted. Out of the four forms of child abuse, two were identified for the study, physical abuse and neglect. Four research questions were formulated to guide the study. The population of the study consist of 3125 primary five (5) pupils. 312 primary five (5) pupils were selected as sample from thirteen primary schools from the population using simple random sampling technique. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions. The result revealed that physical abuse and child neglect influence pupils’ academic achievement. Based on the findings, it was recommended that parents and guardians should see beating, hitting, slapping, punching among others as physical abuse and should desist from using them as means of correcting children under their care. Rather advice and state the implication of any negative behaviour a child wears to correcting them whenever they derail from adult expectations on such children and also make home a peaceful place for their children, love, protect and care for them. The study concluded that if child abuse and neglect are reduced to its beeriest minimum, pupils’ academic achievement in primary schools would be enhanced towards development of other levels of education for national development.  


Author(s):  
Lea Tufford

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.


2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-167
Author(s):  
Conor Hanly

Abstract Starting in the early 1990s, reports published over a quarter of a century detailed shocking levels of child abuse and child neglect in Ireland, along with failures by Church and State officials to take effective action. These revelations, supported by international research, made a compelling case for the introduction of some form of mandatory reporting. Yet until 2015, Ireland’s child protection system relied upon the discretion of those who suspected incidents of child abuse. The Children First Act 2015 introduced a new system of mandatory reporting that applies to professionals working in the health, education, childcare and law enforcement fields, a system that became active at the end of 2017. This article reviews the development of the reporting system in Ireland, and analyses the new obligations created by the 2015 Act. The article also analyses some initial figures for 2018, which show a substantial increase in the number of reports of child abuse and neglect made in that year. Additionally, the article argues for the insertion into the new system of some nuance in order that victim autonomy might be better respected.


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 374-393
Author(s):  
Sarah Whitcombe-Dobbs ◽  
Michael Tarren-Sweeney

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.


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