NCJ Number
67950
Journal
Journal of Social Issues Volume: 35 Issue: 2 Dated: (1979) Pages: 101-126
Date Published
1979
Length
26 pages
Annotation
PHYSICAL ABUSE OF ADOLESCENTS IS EXAMINED THROUGH A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE AND A STUDY OF 25 CASES OF ADOLESCENT ABUSE FROM A PUBLIC WELFARE OFFICE IN A LARGE MIDWESTERN CITY.
Abstract
DATA FROM ABUSE REPORT REGISTRIES AND RESEARCH INDICATES THAT SUBSTANTIAL NUMBERS OF ADOLESCENTS ARE BEING PHYSICALLY ABUSED. IN THE STUDY, ALL REPORTED CASES OF ADOLESCENT ABUSE IN ONE COUNTY WELFARE OFFICE DURING A 10-MONTH PERIOD WERE STUDIED. SEXUAL ABUSE CASES WERE EXCLUDED. FOURTEEN OF THE 25 VICTIMS WERE AGED 15, 16, OR 17. MOST WERE CAUCASIAN; 64 PERCENT WERE FEMALES. MEN WERE THE PERPETRATORS TWICE AS OFTEN AS WOMEN. HITTING, OFTEN WITH AN OBJECT, WAS THE COMMONEST MEANS OF ABUSE. MOST CASES WERE FROM LOWER MIDDLE CLASS OR UPPER LOWER CLASS GROUPS, ALTHOUGH A RANGES OF CLASSES WAS REPRESENTED. PARENTS COMMONLY JUSTIFIED THE INCIDENT AS BEING DISCIPLINARY. IN ABOUT HALF THE CASES, THE ABUSE BEGAN IN ADOLESCENCE; 12 CASES REPRESENTED ESCALATIONS FROM PHYSICAL PUNISHMENT OR CHILDHOOD ABUSE. MOST FAMILIES HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY INVOLVED WITH A VARIETY OF SOCIAL AGENCIES. SCHOOLS PLAYED A ROLE IN BOTH IDENTIFYING AND TREATING ABUSE. RESULTS INDICATED THAT MULTIPLE FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO ADOLESCENT ABUSE, THAT SUCH ABUSE IS MORE DIFFICULT TO DEFINE THAN CHILD ABUSE, AND THAT THE SCHOOL'S ROLE IN INTERVENTION SHOULD BE STRENGTHENED. SEVERAL AREAS OF FURTHER RESEARCH ARE SUGGESTED. TABLES, REFERENCE NOTES, AND A REFERENCE LIST OF 15 PUBLICATIONS ARE INCLUDED.