Child abuse & neglect
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Child abuse & neglect · Dec 1996
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialAnatomically-neutral dolls: their effects on the memory and suggestibility of 4- to 6-year-old eyewitnesses.
The purpose of this investigation was to compare the amount and accuracy of details provided in the eyewitness accounts of preschool-aged children interviewed exclusively with a verbal interview against those interviewed with anatomically-neutral dolls in addition to a verbal interview. Forty-four children, aged 4 to 6 years, were paired up and assigned as participants or observers for an event they engaged in with a confederate. Children's memory was assessed afterwards by (a) The Step-Wise Interview (Yuille, Hunter, Joffe, & Zaparniuk, 1993); (b) the Step-Wise Interview and big dolls; or (c) The Step-Wise Interview and small, detailed dolls and props. ⋯ Relative to 4-year-olds, 5-year-olds recalled a greater number of overall details and were more accurate in their accounts with both types of dolls. Females were more accurate than males in their accounts with the small detailed toys and props. Implications for the use of anatomically-neutral dolls in child sexual abuse investigations are discussed.
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Child abuse & neglect · Nov 1996
Adolescent mothers and child abuse potential: an evaluation of risk factors.
This research examines maternal and child factors that place adolescent mothers at risk for abusing their children. Using a longitudinal design, relationships among four risk factors (social supports, maternal psychological adjustment, maternal preparation for parenting, and child temperament), maternal psychological predisposition for aggressive coping (perceptions of stress and endorsements of punitive parenting), and maternal abuse potential were examined in a sample of 75 primiparous adolescent mothers and their children. ⋯ Similarly, the effects of child temperament on abuse were mediated by the mother's psychological predisposition for aggressive coping. Implications for designing intervention programs, and identifying at-risk adolescents, were also discussed.
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The objective of this paper is to provide an overview of the effects of war on children during the 20th century. It is argued that wars have both direct and indirect effects on the population. It also is noted that wars have changed from being "conventional" to being of "low intensity". ⋯ The effects of the strategy used in "low intensity" conflicts is the disruption of the medical, social, educational, and public services of a country and the terrorization of the population. Under these circumstances children suffer inordinately. Their homes are destroyed, their families disrupted, and their chances of becoming mature productive members of society are compromised.
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Family functioning in 103 neglectful and 102 non-neglectful low-income families is examined using self-report and observational measures. Neglectful mothers reported their families as having more family conflict and less expression of feelings, but not less cohesive. ⋯ However, there were wide differences on measures of functioning among neglect families. Three distinct types of neglectful family functioning are identified and interventions for each type are suggested to improve parental-family functioning.