NCJ Number
100046
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 8 Issue: 4 Dated: (1984) Pages: 387-392
Date Published
1984
Length
6 pages
Annotation
In examining current knowledge about male child abusers, this study compares male and female abusers and assesses current research on gender differences in the etiology of abuse as well as in responses to treatment.
Abstract
Studies of abusive parents published between 1976 and 1980 were identified in a computer search of the literature and from a review of recent research and other sources. Sixty-six works were reviewed and classified as father-only, mother-only, and two-parent studies. Twenty-eight of the studies focused only on mothers, and two dealt exclusively with fathers. Most of the 36 remaining 2-parent studies did not discuss sex differences among abusers. No diagnostic categories consistently differentiated male from female abusers, and no study discussed the specialized treatment needs of male and female abusers. These findings indicate that researchers consider mothers the primary child abusers, even though recent annual studies by the American Humane Association indicate that fathers are involved in at least 50 percent of child abuse cases. Consequently, inadequate treatment resources have been provided for abusing fathers. Thirty-six references are listed. (Author abstract modified)