Physical Abuse of Children (From Handbook of Family Violence, P 119-155, 1988, Vincent B Van Hasselt, et al, eds. -- See NCJ-113381)

• NCJ Number: 113386
• Author(s): R H Starr
• Date Published: 1988
• Length: 37 pages
• Sale Source: Plenum Press
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This paper reviews the roots of the social concern about physical child abuse over the past 20 years; analyzes the magnitude of the problem; reviews current knowledge; and provides a framework for considering treatment, prediction, and prevention.

Abstract

After discussing some of the issues in defining child abuse, this paper notes inadequacies in the official reporting of such abuse and consequent inaccuracies in incidence data. Discussions of causal theories and research on the causes and correlates of abuse are followed by a summary of current knowledge about factors related to physical child abuse. These include psychological factors (personality, intelligence, intergenerational transmission of abuse, childrearing approaches), social factors (stress, social isolation, social acceptance of violence), child factors, and parent-child interaction factors. Overall, the discussion indicates that child abuse is multiply determined, with different variables being important in individual cases. The paper concludes with discussions of treatment, prediction, and primary prevention. This summary of current knowledge about child physical abuse is intended as a foundation for future research, prevention, and social action. 231 references.