NCJ Number
176498
Journal
Journal of Aggression Volume: ltreatment and Trauma Issue: Dated: Pages: 1 (1997)-224
Date Published
1997
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This study reviews the literature that has examined any link between child abuse and child disability as a risk factor; also, impediments encountered in the assessment and treatment of abused children with disability and their families are discussed, and guidelines for practice are presented.
Abstract
Several authors have hypothesized that children with disabilities are at increased risk for physical abuse. Such a finding would be consistent with current ecological models, which posit that certain child characteristics (e.g., behavior problems), in combination with other risk factors, can lead to abuse. The paucity of research in this area makes it difficult to draw firm conclusions at this time; however, the few studies that have been conducted suggest that child characteristics play a minor role in the etiology of abuse. Despite the lack of evidence that children with disabilities are at significantly greater risk for abuse than their nondisabled peers, the presence of a disability raises some unique issues in the identification, assessment, and treatment of special-needs children. The literature contains several examples of interventions with disabled populations. These interventions are primarily behavioral in orientation, emphasizing general parental coping and problem-solving skills to reduce risk and lower the probability of abuse. The heterogeneity of abused children with disabilities, along with their families, requires a broad and comprehensive approach to assessment. Consequently, clinical assessment consists of an evaluation of multiple areas of child and parental functioning in order to identify targets for treatment. There is no standard behavioral approach to the treatment of child abuse. Most interventions are parent-child focused, with the intention of enhancing parenting skills to improve the relationship and prevent future abuse. Comprehensive Behavioral Treatment (CBT), which is described in this article, is a multicomponent, in-home behavioral intervention for maltreating parents of disabled children. CBT involves child management skills training, parenting skills training, impulse and anger control training, leisure skills training, household organization training, stress-reduction training and problem-solving skills, and developmental psychoeducational training. 3 tables and 57 references