Intrafamilial child sexual abuse: predictors of postdisclosure maternal belief and protective action.

The two purposes of this study were to determine the percentage of nonoffending, biological mothers who were concordant for belief and protection of their sexually abused children and to examine maternal, child, and situational characteristics that predict such concordance. Data were collected on a sample of 435 mothers. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were utilized to identify the proportion and the predictors of maternal belief and protective action. Findings indicated that mothers were more likely to believe and protect when they postponed the birth of their first child until reaching adulthood, when they were not a current sexual partner of the offender, when they did not have knowledge of the sexual abuse prior to the child's disclosure, and when the victim did not exhibit sexualized behavior. These findings have the potential to enhance the efficacy of child welfare interventions by underscoring the importance of maternal belief and protection. Further empirical study is recommended to investigate predictors of ambivalent maternal responses to her child's sexual victimization.

Predicting child maltreatment recurrences during treatment.

UNLABELLED: The primary purpose of the child protective services system is to protect children from the recurrence of child maltreatment. Understanding more about what predicts recurrence may help us more adequately target interventions to reduce the risk of future maltreatment. OBJECTIVE: The specific objective of this study was to identify correlates of recurrence during CPS intervention for families who were provided continuing intervention following a confirmed index report of physical abuse or neglect. METHOD: This nonconcurrent prospective study selected 446 subject families who met study eligibility requirements from 1,181 families randomly selected from the 2,902 families who had experienced a substantiated report of child abuse or neglect during the sampling year. Data were collected and coded from archival sources for 5 years following the index report. Each record was coded by two research analysts to increase inter-rater reliability. Data were analyzed with survival analysis methods: (1) Kaplan Meier and (2) the Cox Proportional Regression Model. RESULTS: Predictors of recurrence were child vulnerability, family stress, partner abuse, social support deficits, and an interaction between family stress and social support deficits. CONCLUSIONS: Implications of this and earlier research suggest that increasing social supports may help families cope with life events that increase stress and the risk of continued child maltreatment; that collaborations between CPS and domestic violence agencies are needed; and that screening maltreated children for mental health problems and other disabilities and assuring that children with these needs and their families get effective treatment may reduce the likelihood of continued maltreatment.

Parenting behaviors and perceived parenting competence of child sexual abuse survivors.

OBJECTIVE: This paper reports data testing two alternative hypotheses: (1) the relationship between child sexual abuse and subsequent parenting attitudes and behaviors is a function of the third variable, growing up experiences other than CSA; and (2) maternal depression mediates the relationship between CSA and the same parenting variables. METHOD: The current study was a retrospective survey of 516 very low-income, urban mothers. Parenting was assessed with three measures: The Parenting Competence Scale and the verbal and severe violence subscales of the Conflict Tactics Scale. RESULTS: Findings for two of the dependent variables, perceived parenting competence and severe violence, supported the third variable hypothesis. The mediational hypothesis was not supported for any of the parenting indicators. CONCLUSIONS: Findings regarding the third variable hypothesis are discrepant from those of the one earlier study that tested this hypothesis, suggesting that before conclusions can be drawn regarding the effect of CSA on parenting further research is in order.

Bias in child maltreatment reporting: revisiting the myth of classlessness.

Data on the degree of class bias in child protective services databases are reviewed, along with recent empirical findings on the class distribution of child maltreatment. The evidence suggests high levels of child abuse and neglect among the poor and, despite debate on the question, there is no body of empirical data suggesting that these findings are a product of bias predisposing toward overestimates of child maltreatment among the poor. Implications for research, practice, and policy are offered.

Adult functioning of children who lived in kin versus nonrelative family foster homes.

The study reported here explored associations between the type of placement in out-of-home care (kinship versus nonrelative) and selected outcomes in adulthood. Interviews were conducted with 214 children formerly in care (40% kinship placed), who reported on parameters of their current functioning, including education and employment, physical and mental health, stresses and supports, and risk-taking behaviors. Although the social services records reported significant differences in functioning during out-of-home care between children in kinship care and those in nonrelative family foster care, few differences were found in adult functioning. Explanations for these findings are explored.

The reported health and functioning of children maltreated while in family foster care.

The ability to assess accurately risk factors for maltreatment while in family foster care is essential for developing prevention and intervention strategies. Yet information about children involved in maltreatment episodes while in foster care is severely limited. This correlational study reports on characteristics, health, and functioning parameters of all 78 children with substantiated maltreatment reports between 1984-1988 in an urban foster care program as compared to a random sample of 229 nonmaltreated children in foster care in the same time period. Almost 50% of the substantiated maltreatment was sexual abuse with the remainder physical abuse and neglect. Problems in health, development, and functioning were reported in the social services record for a large number of all children, but children sexually abused while in care were significantly more likely to have a nonkinship placement, and to have mental health and development problems identified. Physical abuse and neglect while in foster care were not associated with child health and functioning characteristics. The implications of these results are discussed within the context of the data source used.

Perceived benefit from child sexual abuse.

People often report perceptions of benefit from adverse life experiences. In this study, adult perceptions of benefit from child sexual abuse were examined in a sample of 154 low-income women who were sexually abused as children. Almost half reported some perceived benefit. The benefits fell into 4 main categories: protecting children from abuse, self-protection, increased knowledge of child sexual abuse, and having a stronger personality. Degree of perceived benefit was associated with several indicators of adult adjustment. In addition, those who perceived themselves as stronger had higher self-esteem, and those who perceived increased sexual abuse knowledge viewed others more favorably and were more comfortable getting close to others, when compared with other respondents.

Sources of health care and health needs among children in kinship care.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the characteristics of children in kinship care and their caregivers who have access to health care (a single source of health care or a single provider), and to determine the relation between indicators of access and health needs. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: A large eastern city. SUBJECTS: Two hundred ten children selected from households with children in kinship care in April 1989. METHODS: Data were obtained from medical records, access and demographic questionnaires, and a medical and psychologic evaluation. RESULTS: A single facility for health care was reported by 93% of the sample; two thirds of those identified one health care provider. One source of care or one provider was associated with variables such as young age at placement and medical assistance insurance. Children who did not have a single source of care were more likely to have unmet health needs (87% vs 61%, P < .05), especially unmet mental health needs (60% vs 31%, P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Children in kinship care had good access to health care, but the level of unmet health needs was high. Children who did not have a single source of health care were more likely to have unmet health needs, especially unmet mental health needs. These findings have implications for future health care planning for children in out-of-home care.

Types and frequency of child maltreatment by family foster care providers in an urban population.

Types and frequency of child abuse and neglect reports in family foster care in Baltimore, Maryland as compared to reports among nonfoster families are reported. Data on maltreatment incidents in foster homes were abstracted from Child Protective Services investigation records for the years 1984-1988. Comparisons were made to community reports. Results indicated that foster families had over a three-fold increased frequency of maltreatment reports as compared to nonfoster families. Report frequency was highest for physical abuse with a seven-fold risk of report as compared to nonfoster families. Overall, 20% of foster care reports were substantiated as compared to 35% of nonfoster reports, although the risk of having a substantiated report was significantly higher in foster care. The distribution of report types in foster care differed from those in the community with physical abuse the most frequent allegation in foster care, as compared to neglect as the most frequent allegation in the community. Explanations for these findings including differences in criteria for report and substantiation are advanced.

Behavior problems of children in kinship care.

An increasing number of children needing out-of-home care are being placed with relatives. Despite this pervasive policy, there has been scant research on children in this arrangement called kinship care. The objectives of this study were (1) to assess the behavior of children in kinship care and (2) to identify predictors of their behavior. The caregivers of 346 children in kinship care completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Background information was obtained from caregivers and caseworkers. Forty-two percent of boys and 28% of girls had overall CBCL scores in the clinical range, compared with an expected 10% in the general population. Logistic regressions revealed several variables significantly associated with behavior problems including: reason for placement, gender, race, caregiver's perception of the child, caregiver's educational level, number of contacts between caregiver and caseworker, long-term plan, and child's age. The frequent behavior problems among these high-risk children in kinship care suggest they all deserve mental health evaluations; at a minimum, periodic screening is indicated.

Child maltreatment in family foster care.

Predictors of maltreatment of children living in family foster care were sought in characteristics of foster homes. Four characteristics that presented increased risk were identified: homes that had younger foster mothers, homes in which children shared bedrooms with other family members, homes about which case-workers had reservations, and homes that were restricted for placement of certain children. Kinship-care homes were found to present decreased risk.

The physical health of children in kinship care.

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to assess the current and chronic health problems and the adequacy of primary health care of children placed with a relative (kinship care) by a public agency. RESEARCH DESIGN: Population survey. SETTING: Children in kinship care in Baltimore, Md. PARTICIPANTS: Four hundred seven (78%) of 524 children in kinship care in 1989. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS/MAIN RESULTS: Information on the child's health status and care was obtained via a review of medical records; questionnaires sent to primary care physicians, parents, care givers, and caseworkers; and clinical assessment of the child by a nurse, pediatrician, and child psychologist. The children were found to have health problems similar to those in foster and poor children, but more problems than American children in general. Frequent diagnoses included impaired visual acuity and hearing, obesity, dental caries, and asthma; often, these problems had not been identified or treated. Gaps in the medical records precluded firm conclusions concerning the children's primary care, but suggest an inadequate system for ensuring their health care. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need for improving the system of health care for children in kinship care. There is also a need for additional research on this high-risk group of children.

Unplanned childbearing and family size: their relationship to child neglect and abuse.

Mothers from 198 low-income, female-headed families enrolled in child protective services because of child abuse or neglect were compared with an equal number of age-matched controls, to determine if unplanned childbearing and family size increase the risk of child neglect or abuse. Logistic regression analyses suggest that unplanned childbearing increases the risk of child abuse but not of child neglect. Large family size significantly raises the risk of both types of maltreatment, although this factor had a greater effect on the risk of abuse than on the risk of neglect. Finally, unplanned childbearing appears to be indirectly related to abuse through its effect on family size.

Severity of maternal depression and three types of mother-to-child aggression.

This study of low-income, single mothers suggests that severity of depression conditions the relationship between depression and three types of mother-to-child aggression. Compared to nondepressed mothers, moderately but not severely depressed women are more likely to be physically violent, and both moderately and severely depressed women are at increased risk for high frequencies of verbal/symbolic aggression.

The ecology of child abuse and neglect: review of the literature and presentation of data.

This report assesses current knowledge about the ecological determinants of child maltreatment and presents data from an aggregate study of co-variation between seven community characteristics and maltreatment rates. A review of these findings revealed literature in the early stages of development. Nothing is known about the ecology of sexual abuse, and studies of physical abuse and neglect have done little more than demonstrate co-variation between reported incidence and neighborhood population and housing characteristics. Study findings reveal that (a) five of the seven community characteristics are significant and independent correlates of neglect, and four are correlates of abuse; (b) the strongest predictors of both types of maltreatment are percentage of families with income less than 200% of poverty and percent of vacant housing; and (c) the pattern of co-variation between the two economic stress indicators and three inadequate social support indicators are consistent with the ecological hypothesis. Discussion focuses on interpretation of findings and recommendations for future research.

The ecology of child maltreatment: identifying and characterizing high-risk neighborhoods.

This article proposes a multimethod strategy as a way to reduce the existing confusion of methods for determining which neighborhoods within a community are at high risk for child maltreatment, and identifying neighborhood characteristics and problems associated with child abuse and neglect. Description of the multimethod strategy includes examples of the type of data that can be obtained.

Anonymous reports of child physical abuse: are they as serious as reports from other sources?

Anonymous reports of child physical abuse were compared to reports made by professionals and by nonprofessionals on three characteristics: substantiation rate, seriousness of substantiated incidents, and severity of allegations. Data pertinent to the characteristics were abstracted from 1,207 reports made to the Baltimore City Department of Social Services during 1983. Results suggest that reports made by anonymous sources are more likely to be unfounded than reports made by the other two sources. However, despite the lower substantiation rate, those few anonymous reports (15.5%) that do get substantiated seem to represent equally as serious incidents of physical abuse as founded reports from the other two sources. An attempt to explain the lower substantiation rate of anonymous reports in terms of seriousness of allegations reveals that professional but not nonprofessional reporters make more serious allegations than anonymous reporters. Discussion focuses on drawing conclusions about anonymous reports from existing knowledge and recommendations for future research.