INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND CHILD-REARING PRACTICES IN 214 PARENTS OF BATTERED CHILDREN

• NCJ Number: 34575
• Journal: British Journal of Psychiatry Volume: 127 Dated: (DECEMBER 1975) Pages: 513-525
• Author(s): S M SMITH; R HANSON
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 13 pages
• Corporate Author: Royal College of Psychiatrists
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom
• Note: REPRINT

Annotation

THIS PAPER EXAMINES A WIDE VARIETY OF CHILD-REARING METHODS, BACKGROUND FACTORS, PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS, AND SOCIAL CLASS AMONG THE PARENTS OF BATTERED CHILDREN ADMITTED TO AN UNNAMED HOSPITAL.

Abstract

DATA WERE ACQUIRED FROM STANDARDIZED PSYCHIATRIC, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND SOCIAL INTERVIEWS ADMINISTERED TO THE PARENTS. THEIR SELF-REPORTED CHILD-REARING PRACTICES WERE CHARACTERIZED IN A FEW BUT NOT ALL RESPECTS BY DEMANDING BEHAVIOUR WHICH EXCEEDED THAT TO BE EXPECTED IN RELATION TO THEIR SOCIAL CLASS AND AGE. INCONSISTENCY IN CHILD MANAGEMENT WAS NOTED IN THE COMPARISON BETWEEN LACK OF DEMONSTRATIVENESS AND EMOTIONAL OVER-INVOLVEMENT, AND BETWEEN PHYSICAL PUNISHMENT AND A TENDENCY TO BE LAX IN THE SUPERVISION OF THE CHILD, AND WAS REMINISCENT OF PARENTS OF DELINQUENTS. UNHAPPINESS AND HOSTILITY IN RELATIONSHIPS WITH MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILIES OF ORIGIN, WITH UNSUPPORTING PARTNERS AND WITH PEOPLE IN GENERAL WERE OTHER IMPORTANT FEAUTRES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)