NCJ Number
111898
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 12 Issue: 2 Dated: (1988) Pages: 263-271
Date Published
1988
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This study analyzes 30,901 child abuse and neglect reports logged in the Colorado Central Registry file from July 1977 to June 1984, focusing on gender-related patterns and factors predictive of severity of physical abuse.
Abstract
The reports listed 38,637 victims, including some multiple victims. Of the total reports, 14.3 percent or 4,322 listed multiple perpetrators and 23.1 percent or 7,136 listed multiple victims. Boys tended to sustain more frequent and serious injuries. Serious injuries were sustained by 59.1 percent of males under age 1; 55.5 percent of those aged 1 or 2; 60.6 percent of 3 to 5-year-olds; and 58.5 percent of males 6 to 12 years old. Victims of male perpetrators tend to sustain more serious injuries. A modest same-sex perpetrator/victim pattern is revealed for physical abuse, with males more likely to victimize boys, and females are more apt to physically abuse girls. Among victims aged 12 and younger, boys outnumber girls in all reporting categories except sexual abuse. Among adolsecent victims, female victims greatly outnumber male victims in all reporting categories. Similarities between adolescent physical abuse and spouse abuse are noted; males are the predominant perpetrators and females the predominant victims. As expected, victim age emerged as a strong predictor of severity of physical abuse injury. Results indicate that 26.5 percent (393 of 1,483) serious injuries involved children under age 1, and another 25.4 percent (376 of 1,483) were sustained by victims aged 1 and 2. Several other factors including social isolation, mental health problems, lower income, and unemployment of the father are identified as modest predictors of severity. Tabular data and 10 references. (Author abstract modified)