NCJ Number
222029
Journal
Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 32 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2008 Pages: 5-18
Date Published
January 2008
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study examined the relationship between physical abuse of adolescents and parenting by mothers and fathers and whether the association differed by gender.
Abstract
The study found that adolescents who were physically abused were more likely to perceive that neither parent had provided them with optimal parenting when compared with nonabused comparison subjects. Abused girls perceived more dysfunctional parenting from their fathers and mothers than the abused boys. The adolescent abuse group (n=99), consisted of 51 girls and 45 boys who were recruited from the New York State Department of Social Services Child Abuse Registry of 974 families (either 1 or 2 parent) over a 4-year period. The Nassau or Suffolk County Child Protective Services (CPS) had investigated a case of adolescent physical abuse by a biological parent or stepparent which was substantiated by bruising or other physical evidence. The nonabused comparison group also consisted of 99 adolescents, all were White, middle class, and between the ages of 12 and 18. Although CPS cited fathers as the abuse perpetrators, abused boys and girls often reported experiencing physical maltreatment from both parents. Subjects completed the following: Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale, Parental Bonding Instrument, and the modified Conflict Tactics Scale (assessing physical abuse/punishment by each parent). Tables, references