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FOUR PERSPECTIVES ON THE STATUS OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT RESEARCH

NCJ Number
45859
Author(s)
R M FRIEDMAN; R E HELFER; S N KATZ; L AMBROSINO; M MCGRATH; K SAWITSKY; N A POLANSKY
Date Published
1976
Length
281 pages
Annotation
THE CURRENT STATUS OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT RESEARCH IS REVIEWED FROM EACH OF FOUR TRADITIONAL PERSPECTIVES (MENTAL HEALTH, MEDICINE, LAW, AND SOCIAL WORK), WITH CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EACH FIELD.
Abstract
A SERIES OF FOUR ARTICLES PROVIDES AN EXPERT PERSPECTIVE ON RESEARCH IN EACH OF THE FOUR AREAS, CITING AUTHORS AND DATES OF THE RESEARCH AND SUMMARIZING IMPORTANT FINDINGS. MENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH HAS BEEN HANDICAPPED BECAUSE MOST STUDIES CONSIDER ONLY THOSE CASES THAT HAVE COME TO THE ATTENTION OF HOSPITALS OR COURTS. TO STUDY LONG TERM EFFECTS OF THE TRAUMA OF INTENTIONAL CHILD ABUSE, THE MOST FREQUENTLY USED CONTROL GROUPS ARE ACCIDENT VICTIMS, NEGLECTED CHILDREN, OR OTHER PATIENTS OF THE SAME HOSPITAL OR FACILITY. THE MATCHING OF BACKGROUND VARIABLES HAS BEEN WEAK. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT A GREATER VARIETY OF EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS BE USED, INCLUDING DIRECT OBSERVATIONS, LONGITUDINAL RESEARCH, AND EXPERIMENTAL ANALOGS TO CHILD ABUSE. THE CASE STUDY APPROACH IS DESCRIBED AS THE MOST USEFUL RESEARCH TO DATE. IT IS ALSO SUGGESTED THAT MOST EMPHASIS BE PLACED ON IDENTIFYING THE STRESSES AND PERSONALITY PROBLEMS WHICH LEAD TO CHILD ABUSE IN ORDER TO PREVENT SUCH OCCURRENCES WHENEVER POSSIBLE. TO INVESTIGATE LONG TERM EFFECTS, IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO STUDY NONABUSED SIBLINGS. MEDICAL RESEARCH IS IN A STATE OF TRANSITION. IN ADDITION TO TRADITIONAL APPROACHES, SUCH AS THE LEGAL ISSUES IN CHILD ABUSE AS THEY RELATE TO MEDICINE, THE ROLE OF NURSES AND MEDICAL PERSONNEL, AND EARLY RECOGNITION AND PREVENTION, LESS TRADITIONAL SUBJECTS ARE BEING STUDIED, INCLUDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH SOCIAL AGENCIES AND PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVENTION BY PHYSICIANS AND NURSING STAFF. THE LEGAL REVIEW EXAMINES CRIMINAL LAWS, REPORTING STATUTES, NEGLECT STATUTES, JURISDICTIONS, THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE LAW TO OTHER DISCIPLINES, THE PARENTS' RIGHTS, AND THE CHILD'S RIGHTS. THE SOCIAL WORK PERSPECTIVE LISTS WARNING SIGNALS, DISCUSSES INFLUENCES WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO NEGLECT, AND SUGGESTS WAYS TO WORK WITH BOTH THE PARENTS AND THE CHILD. THERE IS A LACK OF GOOD RESEARCH ON THE MOST EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES AND TACTICS. EVEN MORE GLARING IS THE LACK OF A CLEAR DEFINITION OF ABUSE. THE PROBLEM IS NOT SO MUCH RECOGNIZING THE OBVIOUS CASES, BUT KNOWING HOW TO DEAL WITH THE MORE SUBTLE ONES. THIS LACK OF DEFINITION RESULTS IN FREQUENT DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN COURTS AND SOCIAL WORKERS. SOCIAL WORKERS CAN AFFORD TO BE LESS METICULOUS AND FREQUENTLY OFFER TO HELP EVEN WHERE THERE IS ONLY A SUSPICION OF CHILD ABUSE; COURTS MUST WORK WITH CONCRETE FACTS AND OFTEN WILL ACT ONLY AFTER THE ABUSE HAS OCCURRED. GUIDELINES ARE NEEDED TO DETERMINE THE ADEQUACY OF CHILD CARE IN A GIVEN SITUATION AND TO PROVIDE A COMMON GROUND BETWEEN COURTS AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES. (SEE ALSO NCJ 45860.) (GLR)