NCJ Number
147502
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 18 Issue: 3 Dated: (March 1994) Pages: 225- 232
Date Published
1994
Length
8 pages
Annotation
The role of the mother's self-concept in child abuse and neglect was assessed using data from 471 women, who completed the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale while pregnant and for whom State child protective service records were reviewed 3 years later.
Abstract
The study was conducted at Metropolitan Nashville General Hospital in Nashville, Tenn. Results revealed that 29 of the 459 women known to have a live-born child had maltreated their children. Twenty-two neglected their children, and 11 physically abused their children; four both neglected and abused their children. The neglectful mothers had lower scores on scales measuring overall self-esteem, moral self-worth, personal and social adequacy, and perception of self-worth in family relationships than matched nonreported mothers. They described their identity and behavior more negatively and had greater general maladjustment and neurotic symptoms. Physically abusive mothers had lower scores on self-worth in family relationships. Findings indicated that low self-esteem, when measured prospectively, appears to be a risk factor for child neglect, but it not a strong predictor for physical abuse. Findings suggested the need for a more comprehensive approach to prevention. Tables and 22 references (Author abstract modified)