NCJ Number
138096
Journal
Journal of Marriage and the Family Volume: 53 Dated: (November 1991) Pages: 885-897
Date Published
1991
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This article questions Strauss and Gelles' (1986) conclusion that child abuse and wife abuse were substantially lower in 1985 than in 1975.
Abstract
Straus and Gelles found that wife beating decreased 0.8 percentage points, "severe child abuse" decreased 3.3 percent, and "very severe child abuse" decreased 1.7 percent. Straus and Gelles outlined alternative interpretations for these rate differences, some methodological (an artifact of the research method) and some substantive (changed behavior). The evidence they offered tended to discount methodological explanations. The current study explored three additional methodological explanations: the changing age structure of the population, changed reactions of respondents to the survey, and changed definition of the child population. The data used were the same nationally representative survey data that Straus and Gelles used. By refining cohort analysis to apply to sample data, the study shows that changes in the age structures of the adult and child population explain most of the reported reduction. Much of the remaining change may have resulted when respondents' reactions to the survey and children's age of eligibility changed. The application of cohort analysis to samples can help determine patterns that underlie changes in cross-sectional rates. Analysis of missing values can help users recognize changed respondents' reactions to surveys. The minimal reduction in domestic violence shown in this study provides reason to increase resources for intervention in domestic violence. 3 notes and 18 references