NCJ Number
60301
Journal
Child Development Volume: 49 Dated: (1978) Pages: 604-616
Date Published
1978
Length
13 pages
Annotation
FINDINGS FROM STUDIES EXAMINING THE MALTREATMENT OF CHILDREN, INCLUDING ABUSE AND NEGLECT, IN A COMMUNITY CONTEXT ARE PRESENTED; DATA COLLECTED ARE USED AS SOCIAL INDICATORS OF FAMILY LIFE QUALITY.
Abstract
THE MALTREATMENT OF CHILDREN INVOLVES A WIDE RANGE OF DEVELOPMENTAL PROCESSES AND OUTCOMES INCLUDING PHYSICAL, COGNITIVE, AND AFFECTIVE. THIS REPORT ADDRESSES THE FEEDBACK FUNCTION OF FAMILY-SUPPORT SYSTEMS AND LINKS MALTREATMENT TO THE OVERALL BALANCE OF STRESSES AND SUPPORTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD CONTEXT OF FAMILIES. IT FOCUSES ON THE REPORTED INCIDENCE OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT AT TWO LEVELS OF NEIGHBORHOOD ANALYSIS WITHIN A SINGLE METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY. MULTIPLE-REGRESSION ANALYSIS IS USED TO DEVELOP PREDICTIVE EQUATIONS USING SOCIOECONOMIC, DEMOGRAPHIC, AND SOME ATTITUDINAL DATA AS INDEPENDENT VARIABLES. THE RESULTS STRONGLY SUPPORT THE POSITION THAT CHILD MALTREATMENT IS RELATED TO SOCIOECONOMIC, DEMOGRAPHIC, AND ECONOMIC VARIABLES. THERE IS A GENUINE INVERSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AFFLUENCE AND CHILD MALTREATMENT. SOURCES OF CHILD MALTREATMENT REPORTS ALSO VARY ACCORDING TO NEIGHBORHOOD AFFLUENCE. IN HIGHER-INCOME AREAS, REPORTING IS MORE LIKELY TO BE CARRIED OUT BY FAMILY MEMBERS, NEIGHBORS, AND FRIENDS. HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, AGENCIES, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT GROUPS ARE MORE LIKELY TO REPORT IN ECONOMICALLY-DISADVANTAGED NEIGHBORHOODS. DATA ON THE SOURCE OF REPORTS TEND TO DISCOUNT THE WIDELY HELD POSITION THAT BIASED REPORTING ACCOUNTS FOR THE NEGATIVE CORRELATION BETWEEN SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS AND CHILD MALTREATMENT. ON THE CONTRARY, IT IS CONCLUDED THAT UTILIZATION OF CHILD MALTREATMENT DATA AS SOCIAL INDICATORS OF THE QUALITY OF FAMILY LIFE IS A VALUABLE TOOL WITH WHICH TO FORMULATE QUESTIONS AND THUS FOCUS ATTENTION AND RESOURCES ON THE FAMILIES IN NEED OF HELP. INCLUDED IN THE STUDY ARE NOTES, REFERENCES, AND STATISTICAL DATA. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LWM)