Child maltreatment and modifying factors in Shanghai, China

Abstract

The risk of child abuse and neglect is greatest in early childhood and is associated with adverse psychosocial well-being over the lifespan. The true prevalence is difficult to quantify and there are often large discrepancies between actual maltreatment, reports to authorities, and confirmation by authorities. Shan et al attempt to determine the prevalence of maltreatment by collecting parental reports about 20 324 children aged 3-4 years who were enrolling into 191 kindergartens in Shanghai, China. Previous reports of child maltreatment in China were based on victim reports, which limited the sample to older children, adolescents, and adults. Parents completed an online survey that entailed a single-item question about whether their child had ever experienced abuse (physical, mental, or sexual) or neglect (emotional or physical). This question was examined in relationship to parental responses to the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and the Chinese Parent-Child Interaction Scale. With 97.3% of 20 899 invited parents participating, the authors found that 2.7% of parents reported child maltreatment with only 1.3% of respondents failing to answer the question. Demographic characteristics associated with child maltreatment included lower socioeconomic status, father as the primary caregiver, and having a sibling. The negative impact on child psychological development and well-being was modified by the frequency of positive parent-child interactions. The likelihood of under-reporting is significant due to cultural factors, parental denial, and/or fear of repercussion. Furthermore, as the authors note, harsh parenting behavior in China is perceived positively as a sign of “concern and love,” which would reduce the probability that parents describe their actions as maltreatment in self-reports. The positive take away is to promote frequent positive parent-child interactions, which can reduce the adverse outcomes associated with child maltreatment, benefitting the child, the family, and society at large. Article page 180▸ Association between Maltreatment, Positive Parent–Child Interaction, and Psychosocial Well-Being in Young ChildrenThe Journal of PediatricsVol. 213PreviewTo explore the prevalence of maltreatment and the combined effect of maltreatment and frequency of positive parent–child interaction on psychosocial well-being in young children in China. Full-Text PDF