PROFILE OF VIOLENCE TOWARDS CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES

• NCJ Number: 54050
• Author(s): R J GELLES
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 32 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PAPER PRESENTED AT THE ANNENBERG SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATIONS CONFERENCE ON 'CHILD ABUSE - CULTURAL ROOTS AND POLICY OPTIONS', PHILADELPHIA, PA., NOVEMBER 20, 1978

Annotation

THIS NATIONAL STUDY OF VIOLENCE TOWARD CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES EXAMINES FACTORS RELATED TO THE USE OF VIOLENCE BY PARENTS AND THE EXTENT OF CHILD ABUSE.

Abstract

THE OVERALL GOAL OF THE STUDY WAS TO EXPLORE THE INCIDENCE, PATTERNS, AND CAUSES OF FAMILY VIOLENCE AMONG HUSBANDS AND WIVES, PARENTS AND CHILDREN, AND SIBLINGS. FAMILY VIOLENCE WAS DEFINED AS AN ACT CARRIED OUT WITH THE INTENTION OR PERCEIVED INTENTION OF PHYSICALLY HURTING ANOTHER PERSON. DATA FOR THE STUDY WERE BASED ON INTERVIEWS WITH A NATIONALLY-REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF 2,143 COUPLES, OF WHOM 1,146 HAD ONE OR MORE CHILDREN BETWEEN 3 AND 17 YEARS OF AGE LIVING AT HOME AT THE TIME OF INTERVIEWS. INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED WITH HUSBANDS IN ABOUT HALF OF THE FAMILIES AND WITH WIVES IN THE OTHER HALF. VIOLENCE AND THE INCIDENCE OF VIOLENCE WERE MEASURED USING A SERIES OF QUESTIONS CALLED CONFLICT TACTICS SCALES. THERE WAS A SMALL BUT SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MOTHERS AND FATHERS IN THE USE OF PHYSICAL VIOLENCE TOWARD CHILDREN. MOTHERS WERE SLIGHTLY MORE LIKELY TO BE VIOLENT THAN FATHERS. BOYS WERE MORE LIKELY THAN GIRLS TO BE VICTIMS OF PARENTAL VIOLENCE. CHILDREN MOST VULNERABLE TO PHYSICAL ABUSE WERE THE YOUNGEST CHILDREN (3 TO 5 YEARS OF AGE) AND THE OLDEST CHILDREN (15 TO 17 YEARS OF AGE). FAMILIES WITH YOUNG PARENTS, BLUE COLLAR WORKERS, LOWER INCOMES, TWO TO SEVEN CHILDREN, AND FAMILY DECISIONMAKING POWER CONCENTRATED ON ONE PARENT ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE ABUSING FAMILIES. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH VIOLENCE TOWARD CHILDREN INVOLVED REGION OF COUNTRY, CITY AND COUNTY, RACE, RELIGION, AGE, EDUCATION, INCOME, OCCUPATION, UNEMPLOYMENT, STRESS, AND FAMILY STRUCTURE. THE PROFILE OF VIOLENCE TOWARD CHILDREN IS VIEWED AS USEFUL IN IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ABUSIVE PARENTAL ACTIONS. SOCIAL FACTORS ARE RELATED TO CHILD ABUSE, AND THE STUDY FINDINGS HAVE CLEAR IMPLICATIONS FOR FAMILY POLICY DEVELOPMENT. RESEARCH ON THE EXTENT OF VIOLENCE TOWARD CHILDREN IS REVIEWED WITH REGARD TO PHYSICAL PUNISHMENT, CHILD ABUSE, DEATHS OF CHILDREN BY VIOLENCE, AND WHETHER CHILD ABUSE IS INCREASING. SUPPORTING DATA FROM THE NATIONAL STUDY ARE PROVIDED, AND REFERENCES ARE CITED. (DEP)