Child abuse & neglect
-
Child abuse & neglect · Feb 2001
Comparative StudyReferrals to a hospital-based child abuse committee: a comparison of the 1960s and 1990s.
Although reports of child maltreatment have increased yearly since national data were first collected in 1976, little information is available about changes in the characteristics of children reported. Therefore, to examine changes over time in recognition and reporting in a medical setting, we compared referrals to a hospital-based child abuse committee in the late 1960s and early 1990s. ⋯ A substantial change has occurred in referrals to the hospital's child abuse committee for abuse or neglect. Most referrals have become socially high-risk newborns and children or children with minimal injuries. This shift is likely due to broader definitions of maltreatment and earlier recognition of troubled families.
-
Child abuse & neglect · Jan 2001
Childhood physical abuse, early social support, and risk for maltreatment: current social support as a mediator of risk for child physical abuse.
The study investigated whether perceptions of social support in adulthood partially mediated the associations between childhood experiences (i.e., receipt of physical abuse and levels of early social support) and adult risk for child physical abuse. ⋯ Low levels of early support may impact risk for child physical abuse by affecting perceptions of others as supportive in adulthood. The receipt of physical abuse in childhood, however, does not appear to impact perceptions of support in adulthood. Research is needed to identify additional factors that may explain the association between receipt of physical abuse in childhood and increased risk of child physical abuse in adulthood.
-
Child abuse & neglect · Oct 2000
History of physical and/or sexual abuse and current suicidality in college women.
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between a history of physical and/or sexual abuse and current suicidality in college-age women. It was hypothesized that abuse history would significantly predict level of suicidality. A secondary hypothesis was that abuse status would predict attitudes about life and death. ⋯ Detailed assessment of female college students' abuse histories should facilitate understanding of their level of suicide risk. Patterns of attitudes about life and death may also be informative.
-
Child abuse & neglect · Oct 2000
The prevalence of disabilities and maltreatment among runaway children.
This research was conducted to determine the prevalence of disabilities among abused and nonabused runaways within a hospital population (Study 1) and community school population (Study 2) and to identify any associations between disability, maltreatment, family stress factors, academic achievement, school attendance, domestic violence and runaway status. ⋯ Children and youth with disabilities are unidentified and unrecognized among runaways. Professionals working with runaways and their families need to be cognizant of the special needs of the population, particularly with respect to behavior disorders, communication disabilities, and mental retardation and reconsider current policy to routinely reunite runaways with their families when running away was precipitated by traumatagenic factors within the family.
-
Child abuse & neglect · Jul 2000
Drug-exposed infant cases in juvenile court: risk factors and court outcomes.
The purpose of this study was to determine which factors were significantly associated with court outcomes for drug exposed infants in dependency court. ⋯ Mothers' behavior was more important for court outcomes than ethnicity, past referrals, and criminal record. It is therefore imperative that mothers are motivated to successfully comply with court orders by offering culturally appropriate services and facilitating attendance at court hearings.