CHILD ABUSE IN TEXAS - A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY OF TEXAS RESIDENTS' ATTITUDES

• NCJ Number: 61791
• Author(s): A D SAPP; D L CARTER
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 18 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Sam Houston State University
• Corporate Author: Sam Houston State University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; Sam Houston State University
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE REPORT SUMMARIZES THE RESPONSES OF TEXAS CITIZENS TO A SURVEY CONCERNED WITH CITIZEN AWARENESS, KNOWLEDGE, AND EXPECTATIONS OF PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ABOUT CHILD ABUSE.

Abstract

THE STUDY EXAMINED OPINIONS OF 1,339 TEXAS RESIDENTS REGARDING CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. THREE PRIMARY AREAS OF PUBLIC ATTITUDES WERE EXAMINED: (1) IDENTIFICATION OF THE NATURE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, SEXUAL ABUSE AND NEGLECT AS SEEN BY THE PUBLIC; (2) THE EXTENT OF CHILD ABUSE AND PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE EXTENT; (3) IDENTIFICATION OF THE PUBLIC'S BELIEF REGARDING THE RESPONSIBILITY OF WHICH AGENCY OF LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT FOR FUNDING AND PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE ABUSED CHILDREN AND ABUSING ADULTS. THE ANSWERS RECEIVED WERE GENERALIZED TO THE TEXAS POPULATION AFTER IT WAS FOUND THAT THE DIFFERENCE IN THE SAMPLE OF BLACK, WHITE, SPANISH AND OTHER RESPONDENTS WAS STATISTICALLY REPRESENTATIVE WITH THE POPULATION OF THE STATE. TABLES SUMMARIZE THE AGE, RACE, RESIDENCE, EDUCATION AND FAMILY SIZE OF THE RESPONDENTS. DETAILED SECTIONS EXPLAIN THE FINDINGS OF THE SURVEY. PHYSICAL ABUSE INCLUDED PADDLING BUT NOT SHAKING; THERE ARE WIDE VARIATIONS IN OPINION AS TO WHAT CONSTITUTES EMOTIONAL ABUSE; HOWEVER, GENERAL AGREEMENT EXISTS AMONG RESIDENTS CONCERNING CHARACTERISTICS OF SEXUAL ABUSE, AND THERE IS GENERAL AGREEMENT CONCERNING WHAT CONSTITUTES NEGLECT. BASED ON THE RESPONSES CONCERNING THE EXTENT AND AWARENESS OF CHILD ABUSE AS PERCEIVED BY CITIZENS IT IS CONCLUDED THAT BETWEEN 8.5 PERCENT AND 12 PERCENT OF CHILDREN IN TEXAS ARE AT RISK AT ANY GIVEN TIME. ALMOST 30 PERCENT OF THOSE ANSWERING REPORTED THAT THEY KNEW OF CASES OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT IN THEIR COMMUNITY. OVERALL THERE IS LITTLE EVIDENCE THAT INDICATES PUBLIC AWARENESS OF FUNDING AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF AGENCIES DEALING WITH CHILD ABUSE. THE PUBLIC IS WILLING TO HAVE TAX MONEY SPENT TO HELP BOTH THE CHILDREN AND THE ABUSING ADULTS. REPRESENTATIVE COMMENTS BY CITIZENS ON VARIOUS TOPICS OF THE SURVEY ARE INCLUDED. (RFC)