Risk Factors For Physical Abuse Research Articles

Severity levels of physical punishment of children/adolescents: cluster analysis

Abstract Physical punishment – corporal punishment – of children/adolescents is highly prevalent. The objective of this study was to verify if, in a sample of parents/caregivers, there would be subgroups that would differentiate themselves regarding the behavior of physically punishing the children, in terms of modalities, frequency, body parts of the child affected, and presence of parental anger in the act of punishing, denoting severity levels associated with differences in the psychosocial variables pointed out in the literature as risk factors for physical abuse. A quantitative approach was adopted, with a cross-sectional design and cluster method. The study included 87 parents/caregivers who practice physical punishment. The analyses indicated the existence of three clusters that differed in the level of severity of corporal punishment and some of the psychosocial variables, denoting the importance of developing services/programs to cope with violence against children/adolescents and specific psychosocial intervention strategies.

Association of Friday School Report Card Release With Saturday Incidence Rates of Agency-Verified Physical Child Abuse

Corporal punishment is a leading risk factor for physical abuse. Strong anecdotal evidence from physicians and other professionals working in child protection suggest that punishment-initiated physical abuse for school-aged children increases after release of report cards. However, no empirical examination of this association has occurred. To examine the temporal association between school report card release and incidence rates (IRs) of physical abuse. This retrospective study reviewed calls to a state child abuse hotline and school report card release dates across a single academic year in Florida. Data were collected in a 265-day window from September 8, 2015, to May 30, 2016, in the 64 of 67 Florida counties with report card release dates available (16 960 days). Participants included all children aged 5 to 11 years for whom calls were made. A total of 1943 verified cases of physical abuse were reported in the study period in the 64 counties. Data were analyzed from October 2017 through May 2018. School report cards release across a single academic year, measured daily by county. Daily counts of calls to a child abuse hotline that later resulted in agency-verified incidents of child physical abuse across a single academic year by county. During the academic year, 167 906 calls came in to the child abuse hotline for children aged 5 to 11 years; 17.8% (n = 29 887) of these calls were suspected incidents of physical abuse, and 2017 (6.7%) of these suspected incidents were later verified as cases of physical abuse before excluding the 3 counties with no release dates available. Among the 1943 cases included in the analysis (58.9% males [n = 1145]; mean [SD] age, 7.69 [1.92] years), calls resulting in verified reports of child physical abuse occurred at a higher rate on Saturdays after a Friday report card release compared with Saturdays that do not follow a Friday report card release (IR ratio, 3.75; 95% CI, 1.21-11.63; P = .02). No significant association of report card release with IRs was found for any other days of the week. This association of school report card release and physical abuse appears to illustrate a unique systems-based opportunity for prevention.

Individual, familial and community determinants of child physical abuse among high-school students in China

While many risk factors for child physical abuse are known, little research exists examining these in multilevel contexts including both individual and environmental influences. The authors examined the roles of individual-, family- and community-level factors such as socioeconomic status (SES) in determining the likelihood of child physical abuse in Guangzhou, China. Twenty-four schools were recruited by stratified random sampling, with 6628 junior high-school students aged 13-16 years participating. Parental child physical abuse experience, together with family and community levels of SES among students were measured and their relationships were investigated by applying univariable, multivariable and multilevel logistic regression models. Univariable, multivariable and multilevel logistic regression models were applied. Six-month prevalence of minor, severe and very severe assaults were 23.2%, 15.1% and 2.8%, respectively. A U-shaped association between family SES and likelihood of severe assaults was identified. In the multilevel model, indicators of low family SES, mother's higher occupational and educational status remained significantly independent predictors of physical abuse. Internal migration status was associated with higher risk as was younger age. The authors suggest that previous categories of risk factors for physical abuse may be too simplistic, and that further research on social and environmental influences may usefully inform intervention programs.

No One Type of Intimate Partner Abuse: Exploring Physical and Non-Physical Abuse Among Intimate Partners

Although research into intimate partner abuse has expanded throughout the past several decades and increased our understanding of this multi-faceted phenomenon, the vast majority of empirical work is still focused almost exclusively on physical violence—against women in particular. Although a crucial issue in our society, physical violence against women is only one facet in an array of possible abusive behaviors toward an intimate partner. Researchers have long acknowledged the existence of multiple forms of non-physical abuse. These types of abuse have received little research attention, however, and are commonly lumped together simply as “non-physical” or “emotional” abuse. There is no reason to believe, however, that all forms of non-physical abuse are the same, whether in intensity, frequency, or co-existence with physical violence. The current study attempts to disentangle the multiple types of nonviolent abuse to examine prevalence, differences by sex, and its relationships to physical abuse. Using Tjaden and Thoennes’ (1998) survey data, this study examines the prevalence of different types of non-physical abuse, both in the general population and among those experiencing physical violence Findings indicate that non-physical partner abuse is more common than physical and that non-physical abuse does not show striking sex differences, as is commonly believed. There is strong evidence that some types of non-physical abuse serve as clear risk factors for physical abuse and may increase risk of more frequent violence among those already being abused. These relationships do not, however, differ by sex. Implications for future research are discussed.

Physical punishment as perceived by parents in Russia: implications for professionals involved in the care of children

To contribute to a knowledge base about the approach of families in Russia towards implementing physical punishment, a study was conducted with 100 parents in St Petersburg. A majority of the participants indicated that it was legitimate to use some measure of physical punishment. The use of an object as a measure was considered acceptable by one‐third of the participants, especially towards children in the age range 5–12. Forty percent of the participants thought that physical punishment should be implemented in a less harsh way towards girls. The most frequently mentioned rationale for its implementation was violation of collectivist‐based norms. A majority of the participants expressed disapproval for state intervention in the way parents handle inappropriate behavior of children unless the situation was extreme. They also indicated a medium‐to‐low level of willingness to seek help from formal sources if their child has a problem. Since physical punishment is considered a risk factor for physical abuse, the findings illuminate the necessity for professionals involved in the care of children to design prevention and intervention programs that could reduce this risk.

Physical abuse against pregnant aborigines in Taiwan: prevalence and risk factors

The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of, and to investigate the risk factors for physical abuse against pregnant aborigines in Taiwan. A cross-sectional survey was conducted. Aboriginal women who had just given birth in hospitals were recruited from January to December 2003. The women were interviewed with a structured questionnaire about the physical abuse and substance use experiences. Participants were 1143 aboriginal women who had just given birth in hospitals. About 175/1143 of the women (15.3%) had ever experienced physical abuse from a husband or intimate partner, and 79/1143 of the women (6.9%) had experienced it during their recent pregnancy. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the women who were more likely to have been physically abused during their pregnancy were: had fewer years of education, husbands who were unemployed, with a patriarchal family situation and had alcohol, cigarette and non-prescription drug use. Based on these results, we suggest that health care professionals provide adequate support and health education, develop interventions, and use referrals in concert with routine prenatal care in order to reduce and prevent the physical abuse of aboriginal women in Taiwan.

Physical Abuse During Pregnancy

To study the prevalence and predictors of physical abuse among pregnant women in Pattani Hospital, Pattani, Thailand. A total of 611 women receiving antenatal clinic services through Pattani Hospital between July 1, 2002 and November 21, 2002 were interviewed. Information was collected on the women’s sociodemographic characteristics, experience of abuse, demographic characteristics of their partners, partner’s smoking habit and use of alcohol. The women’s experience of abuse was assessed by a questionnaire modified from the Abuse Assessment Scale (AAS). In all, 99 (16.2%) women reported experiencing past physical abuse (during a prior pregnancy or during the preceding year), 24 (3.9%) reported experiencing physical abuse during their current pregnancy, and 58 (9.5%) reported experiencing physical abuse both in the past and during their current pregnancy. Physical abuse was associated with parity, marital status, length of relationship, women’s education, smoking habit and the use of alcohol by their partner. After adjustment for confounding factors, the strongest risk factor for physical abuse during pregnancy was partner with a drinking problem. Women whose partner had a drinking problem were more likely to experience abuse during their current pregnancy than those whose partners did not have a drinking problem. In this study, one in eight pregnant women experienced physical abuse during current pregnancy. All types of abuse should be routinely ascertained in antenatal clinics.

Risk Factors for Violence Against Children

This secondary analysis of the 1985 National Family Violence Survey sought to improve understanding of child abuse in the context of wife abuse by comparing risk factors for physical child abuse, verbal abuse, and physical punishment in homes with and without wife abuse. Interaction effects between wife abuse and various parent, child, and family risk factors were examined. For physical and verbal child abuse, several differences in risk factors were found, and interaction effects were significant. No interaction effects were found for the physical punishment model. In homes with wife abuse, adolescents were at particular risk of physical abuse, and alcohol abuse was an especially strong predictor of verbal child abuse. The intergenerational transmission of violence was more important in explaining physical child abuse in homes without wife abuse. This research points to global risk factors for physical punishment and specific risk factors for physical abuse and verbal abuse.

Corporal punishment and primary prevention of physical abuse

Objective: To bring to the attention child maltreatment professionals the potential for primary prevention of physical abuse of ending or reducing corporal punishment by parents. Method: The October 1999 special issue of Child Abuse & Neglect on “A National Call to Action: Working Toward the Elimination of Child Maltreatment” was reviewed in relation to coverage of corporal punishment by parents. Results: Corporal punishment was not mentioned in any of the nine articles. Conclusions: The combination of research showing that corporal punishment is a major risk factor for physical abuse and research showing the wide prevalence and chronicity of corporal punishment suggests that the “National Call For Action” should include steps to end use of corporal punishment as a mode of discipline.

Risk factors and context of men who physically abuse in Bogotá, Colombia

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for physical abuse caused by male perpetrators, as well as to describe the context of abuse and the role of the female partner in these cases in Bogotá, Colombia. Methods: Information from in-depth interviews of males reported to authorities for physical child abuse and their female partners ( n = 45) was quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed and compared to to males and their female partners from the same neighborhood living with a child of the same gender and age (±3 years) as the abused child ( n = 44). Results: Situations of abuse occurred more often on a weekday, in the afternoon or early evening hours, with the mother present, exceptionally involved substance abuse, and tended to be repetititve. Male subjects’ lower level of education, stepfather status, perceived stress, substance abuse and mental illness, lack of social support, history of childhood physical abuse, negative perceptions, attributions and unrealistic expectations of the child’s behavior were associated with abuse. Cases’ female partners were more likely to have a lower occupational level, a higher frequency of dependent personality, a history of childhood physical and sexual abuse and be herself physically and emotionally abused by her spouse. At least three scenarios for abuse emerged from the analyses: “explosive” men, “abusive disciplinarians,” and “children out of parental control.” Conclusions: Most of the findings are consistent with existing research despite the different social and cultural context. The different scenarios suggest the need to tailor preventive and rehabilitative interventions for abusers.

Onset of physical abuse and neglect: Psychiatric, substance abuse, and social risk factors from prospective community data

Studies of psychiatric and social risk factors for child maltreatment have been limited by retrospective methodologies and reliance on officially reported or identified samples. Using data from both Waves I and II of the National Institute for Mental Health's Epidemiologic Catchment Area survey, 7,103 parents from a probabilistic community sample who did not self-report physical abuse or neglect of their children at Wave I were followed to determine the risk factors associated with the onset of self-reported physical abuse or neglect identified at Wave II. Social factors considered included age, socioeconomic status, social support, education, household size, and gender. In addition, several psychiatric disorders, including substance abuse disorders and depression were examined. Risk models were developed using hierarchical logistic regression. Physical abuse and neglect were found to have distinct sets of risk factors, with minimal overlap between the groups. Social and demographic variables were found to be limited predictors of maltreatment, while substance abuse disorders were strongly associated with the onset of both abuse and neglect (relative risks = 2.90 and 3.24 respectively). Depression was found to be a strong risk factor for physical abuse (relative risk = 3.45). Implications of the findings are discussed in terms of major causal models of maltreatment.

Risk Factors for Abuse and Neglect among Older Adults

RÉSUMÉCette recherche présente les facteurs de risque d'abus et de mauvais traitements chez les personnes âgées qui ont fait appel à des organismes sociaux et de santé à London, en Ontario, en 1991. L'article passe en revue quatre points de vue théoriques sur l'abus et les mauvais traitements à l'égard des aînés, soit le modèle de situation, la théorie d'échange social, la théorie d'interaction symbolique et le modèle féministe. Les facteurs de risque de violence physique, de violence verbale chronique, d'abus matériel et de négligence ont été identifiés pour chaque modèle théorique. Chaque ensemble de facteurs de risque a été régressé sur chaque type de mauvais traitement afin de déterminer l'efficacité des modèles théoriques. Les données suggèrent que les facteurs de risque associés aux modèles de situation et féministe offrent la meilleure mesure en ce qui touche la violence physique; le modèle d'interaction symbolique explique plus de la variance de la violence verbale chronique; et les modèles d'interaction symbolique et féministe expliquent la même quantité de variance de la négligence. Aucun des modèles théoriques n'expliquent adéquatement les variances de l'abus matériel.

Drug abuse and other risk factors for physical abuse in pregnancy among white non-Hispanic, black, and Hispanic women

We investigated prevalence and risk factors associated with physical abuse among a tricultural population of 501 pregnant women who attended a public prenatal clinic. Twenty percent (98/501) reported being physically abused; 29% (28/98) stated that abuse occurred during pregnancy. More white non-Hispanic women reported previous abuse than did black or Hispanic women. Battered women more frequently were divorced or separated, were of greater parity, smoked, used alcohol, or admitted to illicit drug use than did women who were not battered. An increased risk of previous physical abuse was observed among white non-Hispanic and black women who used alcohol (odds ratios = 3.0 and 6.0) or drugs (odds ratios = 2.1 and 3.7) but not among Hispanic women. Odds ratios of 4.7 for cocaine use among white non-Hispanic women, 4.7 for marijuana use among black women, and 5.8 for tobacco use among Hispanic women were observed. This is the first study to report the effects of race on the association between physical abuse of pregnant women and substance use.