NCJ Number
108031
Journal
Hospital and Community Psychiatry Volume: 38 Issue: 5 Dated: (May 1987) Pages: 495-501
Date Published
1987
Length
7 pages
Annotation
An analysis of the characteristics of children who set fires shows the importance of parental nurturing as well as early intervention for children who are abused and neglected.
Abstract
The study population consisted of 186 firestarters between ages 4 and 17 and 165 controls matched for age and sex at 2 State psychiatric hospitals for children, 6 community mental health centers, and a children's medical hospital. The data were collected beginning in November 1984. The findings failed to corroborate the results of other studies that have suggested correlations between firesetting and enuresis, sexual conflicts, low intelligence, large family size, economic deprivation, adoption, and a diagnosis of psychosis. However, the study did support other studies' findings that firesetters tend to have conduct problems such as disobedience and aggressiveness. It also found that firesetters experienced significantly more emotional neglect and physical abuse than others. Tables and 34 references. (Author abstract modified)