NCJ Number
161370
Journal
Child Welfare Volume: 75 Issue: 2 Dated: (March/April 1996) Pages: 139-160
Date Published
1996
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This study explored perceptions about the seriousness of specific components of child neglect held by mothers from three cultural groups and those held by public child welfare workers in the Chicago area.
Abstract
Seven day care centers were used to recruit mothers who participated in the study. The final sample consisted of 43 Latino, 49 Caucasian, and 39 African-American mothers. Responses from the 131 mothers were obtained in both group and individual sessions. Findings suggested that minority group members perceived some types of child neglect as more serious than their Caucasian counterparts, that investigative workers viewed most types of child neglect as more serious than service workers, and that workers saw all types of child neglect as less serious than mothers. Comparison data showed that various groups perceived dimensions of child neglect differently in terms of potential harm to the child. Implications of the findings are discussed in terms of child rearing standards in minority communities, and the need for child neglect statutes to reflect community norms is emphasized. 31 references