NCJ Number
18265
Date Published
1973
Length
19 pages
Annotation
REPORT ON A STUDY WHICH ANALYZED THE CIRCUMSTANTIAL FACTORS WHICH DISTINGUISH ABUSED CHILDREN WHO SUFFER SERIOUS INJURY FROM THOSE WHO SUFFER NON-SERIOUS INJURY.
Abstract
THE PURPOSE OF THIS ANALYSIS WAS TO PROVIDE SOCIAL WORKERS AND OTHERS WITH SOME INDICATION OF THE TYPE OF FEATURES TO LOOK FOR WHEN DEALING WITH FAMILIES. DISPLAYING INCIPIENT CHILD ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR. THE 255 CASES OF ESTABLISHED CHILD ABUSE WHICH CAME TO THE ATTENTION OF THE NEW ZEALAND CHILD WELFARE DIVISION DURING 1967 WERE STUDIED USING 28 PREDICTOR VARIABLES. THESE INCLUDED SUCH VARIABLES AS THE CHILD'S AGE, LEGITIMACY, AND HOME; THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN THE HOMES, COHABITATION STABILITY; FATHER'S VIOLENCE; MOTHER'S PREGNANCY; AND MARITAL DISCORD. STUDY RESULTS INDICATED THAT THE VARIABLE WHICH BEST DESCRIMINATED BETWEEN THE SERIOUSLY AND NON-SERIOUSLY ABUSED GROUPS WAS THE AGE OF THE CHILD, WITH CHILDREN UNDER FIVE HAVING A FIVE TIMES GREATER RISK OF BEING SERIOUSLY ASSAULTED. WITHIN THE UNDER FIVE AGE GROUP, YOUNG CHILDREN NOT LIVING WITH BOTH NATURAL PARENTS WERE FOUND TO HAVE TWICE AS GREAT A RISK OF BEING SEVERELY ABUSED AS THOSE LIVING WITH BOTH NATURAL PARENTS. THE MAIN FINDINGS OF THE STUDY ARE SUMMARIZED IN TABULAR FORM. A DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF THE PREDICTOR VARIABLES USED IN THE STUDY APPEARS IN THE APPENDIX. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS ALSO INCLUDED. (FOR A MORE GENERAL DISCUSSION OF THE FINDINGS PRESENTED IN THIS REPORT, SEE NCJ-18264, 'FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SERIOUS ILL-TREATMENT OF CHILDREN.'