NCJ Number
118180
Date Published
1987
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This study tested two alternative explanations of factors related to parental child abuse and neglect -- inclusive fitness and external stress -- by testing the contention that parental abuse is more prevalent in adoptive than birth family arrangements.
Abstract
Questionnaire responses (174 from adoptive parents, 129 from birth parents) measured the relevant factors and parental solicitude on 14 separate scales. The major findings related to the status (adoptive or birth) and sex of the parent. In the birth parent group, mothers tended to be less abusive than fathers, as was expected from the inclusive fitness concept. However, the greater external stress imposed on adoptive mothers, interacting with the absence of inclusive fitness, resulted in an opposite result in the adoptive parent group -- fathers tended to more solicitous than mothers. No overall differences were observed between birth and adopted groups with regard to corporal or sexual abuse. 2 tables, 7 references. (Author abstract modified)