NCJ Number
59596
Journal
Alcohol Health and Research World Volume: 3 Issue: 3 Dated: (SPRING 1977) Pages: 2-7
Date Published
1977
Length
6 pages
Annotation
CHILD ABUSE FACTORS AND TREATMENT ALTERNATIVES ARE CONSIDERED IN RELATION TO THE CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL BY PARENTS AND ITS POTENTIAL FOR LEADING TO ABUSE AND NEGLECTFUL BEHAVIOR.
Abstract
THE CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT ACT OF 1974 DEFINES CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT TOGETHER AS THE PHYSICAL OR MENTAL INJURY, SEXUAL ABUSE, NEGLIGENT TREATMENT, OR MALTREATMENT OF A CHILD UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE BY A PERSON WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CHILD'S WELFARE. STUDIES INDICATE THAT PARENTS WITH ALCOHOL PROBLEMS HAVE A HIGH POTENTIAL FOR ABUSE AND NEGLECT, ESPECIALLY THROUGH ERRATIC AND INCONSISTENT PARENTING. SOME RESEARCHERS SUGGEST THAT ALCOHOL MAY PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN SPECIFIC TYPES OF CHILD ABUSE. A LINK HAS ALSO BEEN INFERRED BETWEEN THE USE OF ALCOHOL DURING PREGNANCY AND CHILD ABUSE. ALTHOUGH ALCOHOLISM HAS BEEN SINGLED OUT AS A FACTOR IN CHILD ABUSE, PARENTS ARE RARELY QUESTIONED DIRECTLY ABOUT THEIR DRINKING PRACTICES IN INVESTIGATIONS OF CHILD ABUSE. IN EXAMINING SITUATIONS WHERE ABUSE AND NEGLECT ARE MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR, RESEARCH CONSISTENTLY POINTS TO FAMILIES WHICH ARE SOCIALLY ISOLATED, HAVE A PARENTAL HISTORY OF ABUSE AS A CHILD, HAVE YOUTHFUL AND INEXPERIENCED PARENTS, AND HAVE GREATER THAN AVERAGE COMPLICATIONS WITH PREGNANCIES. PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF CHILD ABUSERS ARE SIMILAR IN SOME WAYS TO PERSONALITY CHARCTERISTICS OF ALCOHOLICS. SUCH CHARACTERISTICS INCLUDE LOW FRUSTRATION TOLERANCE, LOW SELF-ESTEEM, IMPULSIVITY, DEPENDENCY, IMMATURITY, SEVERE DEPRESSION, PROBLEMS WITH ROLE REVERSAL, DIFFICULTY IN EXPERIENCING PLEASURE, AND INABILITY TO UNDERSTAND NEEDS AND ABILITIES OF INFANTS AND CHILDREN. TWO STUDIES SUPPORTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE ARE UNDERWAY TO EXPLORE WHETHER THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AND CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. SERVICES DESIGNED TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM ABUSE AND NEGLECT ARE DISCUSSED. THE CONCEPT OF COOPERATIVE ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN AGENCIES DEALING WITH CHILD ABUSE AND ALCOHOLISM TREATMENT CENTERS IS EXAMINED, AND TREATMENT ALTERNATIVES SUCH AS PARENTS ANONYMOUS, ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, AND EFFORTS SUPPORTED BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON ALCOHOL ABUSE AND ALCOHOLISM ARE NOTED. AREAS TO CONSIDER IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ALCOHOLISM AND CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT ARE IDENTIFIED, WITH EMPHASIS ON FAMILY INVOLVEMENT, EDUCATION, AND RESEARCH. REFERENCES ARE CITED. (DEP)