NCJ Number
128776
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 18 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1991) Pages: 64-81
Date Published
1991
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This article summarizes the recent literature on the effects of physical abuse on children in the areas of neurological impairment, intellectual functioning, socioemotional functioning, social behavior, and social cognition. Risk factors for child physical abuse are also reported from a study by the authors.
Abstract
For a nonreferred confirmed sample of physically abused school-age children (106) and nonmaltreated classmate control children (85) in New York City, the authors examined some familial risk factors for physical abuse to determine how they combined to put a child at risk for being abused. Using the children's mothers as informants and supplementing the mothers' information with protective service records, the study examined a set of family factors that the authors believed would increase the probability of physical abuse. Direct and indirect risk factors for child abuse were partner abuse in the child's household, severe beating of the mother in her family of origin, substance abuse by mother's parents, and substance abuse and severe discord among adults in the child's household. Regarding the effects of physical abuse, studies have shown negative impacts on child development in all the areas of functioning studied, compared to children who have not been physically maltreated. 1 figure and 66 references