Unemployment rates, single parent density, and indices of child poverty: Their relationship to different categories of child abuse and neglect

Abstract

Objective: There were two main research questions: First, is there a relationship between rates of child physical abuse, child sexual abuse and child neglect and levels of female and male unemployment, single-parent density and child poverty in the immediately local area; and second, is this relationship different for different categories of abuse and neglect and different categories of deprivation? Method: Using archival data—registered cases of abuse and neglect and official data on child population, social worker ratio, unemployment rates, single-parent density, means-tested clothing grants and free school meals for children—a multiple correlational analysis was carried out of the 5,551 referrals and 1,450 registered cases of abuse and neglect in Glasgow, Scotland for the years 1991 through to 1993. Results: Substantial correlations were found with all indices of deprivation but particularly physical abuse with rates of male unemployment. Lower and more variable correlations were found with female unemployment rates. Sexual abuse and neglect rates showed a less consistent relationship with the indices of deprivation. In general male unemployment rates alone accounted for two-thirds of the variance in total abuse and neglect rates, other factors adding little or nothing to this. Conclusions: The results demonstrate the importance of selecting small and relatively homogeneous areas for this kind of analysis to achieve ecological validity. Male unemployment rates at this level allow for the ranking of areas in terms of priority need.