NCJ Number
211586
Journal
Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health Volume: 15 Issue: 2 Dated: 2005 Pages: 97-110
Date Published
2005
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study of a community sample of Italian preadolescents examined the frequency of their self-reported animal abuse, the frequency of their abuse in their family and at school, links between their own abuse and animal abuse and/or bullying peers, and gender differences in these findings.
Abstract
Participants were 268 girls and 264 boys from 5 elementary and middle schools in Rome, Italy; the average age of the sample was 11.8 years. The self-report questionnaire solicited information on respondents having abused animals and bullied peers as well as their own experiences of being abused at home and at school (direct and witnessed). Two in five of the children reported abusing animals at least once, and one in three acknowledged bullying peers at school; there was a higher incidence of these behaviors among boys. Just over 75 percent of the children reported experiencing at least one type of abuse; one-third had witnessed violence between their parents; just over one-third had been directly abused by one or both parents; and two in five had been directly or indirectly victimized at school. There were no significant gender differences in the children's abuse in their homes; but in terms of direct victimization at school, boys reported a higher prevalence rate than girls. Children, whether boys or girls, who witnessed violence between parents or others harming animals were three times as likely to have abused animals themselves compared with peers who had not witnessed such abuse. Overall, the other adverse experiences measured were twice as likely to be associated with animal abuse by the children, with some gender differences found. Findings suggest that animal abuse by children should prompt investigation into the child's own victimization. 4 tables and 30 references