Browsing by Subject "Child maltreatment"
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Item Attachment and social behavior in middle childhood: a comparison of maltreated and non-maltreated children.(2012-08) Jagadeesan, Lisa MichelleThis study examined perceptions of attachment and social behavior in an ethnically diverse, low-income sample of maltreated (N = 334) and non-maltreated (N = 339) 6- to 12-year old children who attended a summer camp research program. Children completed questionnaires assessing their perceptions of security and propensity toward avoidant or preoccupied coping with their mothers, and their counselors and peers rated their social behavior. Consistent with previous research, avoidant coping was negatively correlated with both preoccupied coping and security, whereas preoccupied coping was positively correlated with security. Avoidant coping was more common among boys and showed an age-related increase that was most pronounced in girls. In contrast, preoccupied coping was more common among girls and showed an age-related decrease that was comparable for girls and boys. Children who reported high levels of preoccupied coping were less liked and accepted by their peers, and those who reported high levels of security were seen as less withdrawn by their counselors. Overall, maltreated children reported slightly lower levels of avoidant coping, but did not differ from non-maltreated children in terms of security or preoccupied coping. When attachment was examined in relation to maltreatment characteristics, early maltreatment was associated with more avoidant and less preoccupied coping, whereas recent maltreatment was associated with less security. Counselors and peers perceived maltreated children as less likeable and more prone to problematic social behaviors, but there was no indication that attachment mediated the association between maltreatment and these behaviors.Item Cultural Perspectives on Pathways from Child Maltreatment to Delinquency: A Cross-cultural Mixed Methods Inquiry in the U.S. and South Korea(2019-05) Cho, MinhaeThis study explores cultural perspectives on pathways from child maltreatment to delinquency in the U.S. and South Korea (hereafter Korea). The involvement of maltreated youth in delinquency is a persistent global concern. Involvement in the juvenile justice system compounds risks to children already vulnerable due to maltreatment and involvement in the child welfare system (Chapin & Griffin, 2005; Morris & Freundlich, 2004). What constitutes child maltreatment (Kobin, 2002; Wells & Johnson, 2016) and delinquency (Bartollas & Schmalleger, 2014) varies cross-culturally. These various definitions may affect the pathways from child maltreatment to delinquency. Cross-cultural comparative research on crossover youth is particularly important for the design and implementation of culturally sensitive policies and practices that prevent the involvement of maltreated children with diverse cultural backgrounds in the juvenile justice system. Guided by “universalism without uniformity (Shweder & Sullivan, 1993, p. 514)” from developmental cultural psychology, this study employed a cross-cultural, mixed methods study design (Haight & Bidwell, 2016) to examine cultural variations in understanding risks for involvement in delinquency of maltreated children in the U.S. and South Korea. Using an explanatory sequential mixed methods design, the initial quantitative analyses on risk factors for delinquency in both countries were followed by qualitative inquiries for the purpose of triangulation, contextualization, elaboration, and complementarity. In the quantitative component of this study, a prospective, longitudinal cohort study design was used to examine risk factors for delinquency in the U.S. and Korea, respectively. The U.S. quantitative study investigated delinquency rates over a 6-year period and factors associated with the risk of early onset of delinquency for maltreated youth beginning in 3rd grade in academic year 2008-2009. Utilizing an integrated data set from state departments of Education and Human Services, and Judicial Branch, this study tracked the administrative records of 5,200 maltreated children for their first-time delinquency. Approximately 7% of maltreated youth (n = 332) were adjudicated as delinquent over a 6-year period from 3rd to 8th grade. The results of the Cox proportional hazard model indicated significant risk factors for early onset of delinquency in maltreated children: being male, belonging to particular racial minority groups (Black, Native Indian, and Hispanic youth), receiving a diagnosis of emotional/behavioral disabilities, receiving an out-of-school suspension, and experiencing more than three previous maltreatment incidents. The Korean quantitative study investigated the rates of delinquency, the impact of maltreatment on delinquency, and other risk factors for delinquency among South Korean youth. Using Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey data, this quantitative study followed two cohorts of middle (n=2,275) and high (n=2,272) school Korean youth until their first-time self-reported delinquency over a 4-year period from 6th to 9th grade for the middle school cohort and from 9th to 12th grade for the high school cohort. To create complete and balanced data, ten imputation data sets were generated, and the results present the pooled estimates of these data sets. Approximately 19% of middle and 11% of high school youth engaged in delinquency over the 4-year period. Maltreatment was associated with delinquency only for high school youth. The results of the discrete-time hazard model indicated that in both cohorts, males and youth with high levels of aggression were more likely to engage in delinquency. Consistent with the existing research in Western countries, the Korean quantitative study found additional risk factors including high levels of depression, negative attitudes toward school rules, father’s education less than high school, and low levels of self-control. This study also found some risk factors that require understanding of the sociocultural context in Korea including mother’s education more than high school and higher family income. The subsequent qualitative component of this mixed methods study examined cultural perspectives on the risk factors identified in the first two quantitative studies through the interpretations of U.S. and South Korean professionals. Cross-cultural analysis was conducted on data from the in-depth, semi-structured individual interviews with 21 U.S. and 20 Korean professionals serving various roles in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, including child protection workers, probation officers, attorneys, and judges. The professionals described common and culturally unique risk factors for delinquency in maltreated children. The common risk factors discussed by the U.S. and Korean professionals included: (1) psychosocial vulnerabilities of individual youth; (2) difficulties in parent-child relationships; and (3) challenges to systems’ interventions. Yet their interpretations were culturally nuanced, reflecting differences in the social, cultural, and practice contexts between the two countries: (1) external attribution (U.S.) or internal attribution (Korea) to youth’s psychosocial vulnerabilities; (2) parent history of their own trauma (U.S.) and a lack of parental responsibility (Korea) as as underlying difficulties in the parent-child relationships; and (3) a lack of cross-systems collaboration (U.S.) and a lack of accountability among child-serving systems (Korea) as challenges to systems’ interventions. Professionals’ discussions also revealed culturally unique risk factors in each country: racism (U.S.) and social justification for physical punishment (Korea). As the first cross-cultural, mixed methods study, findings of the current study can contribute to the conceptual understanding of the pathways from maltreatment to delinquency in various cultural contexts. The findings of the current study also can contribute to a broader knowledge base for the training of professionals pertaining to maltreated children at risk for delinquency involved in multiple child serving systems. Furthermore, study findings can facilitate new perspectives among professionals by illuminating their own taken-for-granted assumptions and socialization practices in addressing risks for delinquency in maltreated children. Therefore, findings of this study can promote different ways of thinking to strengthen existing practices and policies as well as to develop culturally tailored interventions that prevent maltreated ethnic minorities from engaging in delinquency.Item Disentangling over-representation of parents with disabilities in the child welfare system: Exploring child maltreatment risk factors of parents with disabilities(Children and Youth Services Review, 2014-12) Lightfoot, Elizabeth; Slayter, ElspethThe study explores the risk factors for child maltreatment and self-reported child maltreatment among a population-based sample of parents with disabilities. Drawing on a nationally-representative, population-based data file that oversampled people of color, income-adjusted odds ratio tests were conducted to establish population differences among parents with and without limitations in activities of daily living (ADLs). Results suggest that parents with disabilities were more likely to report many of the risk factors associated with child maltreatment than parents without disabilities, including witnessing interpersonal violence as a child; experiencing violence, neglect or a foster care stay as a child; mood or substance use disorders; and engaging in or receiving interpersonal violence as an adult. Before controlling for income, parents with disabilities had only a negligibly higher rate of engaging in violence against their children. After controlling for income, parents with disabilities were 2.5 times more likely to engage in violence against their children. Parents with disabilities who did engage in violence against their children had greater amounts of some of the child maltreatment risk factors in comparison to parents with disabilities who did not engage in violence, particularly their own childhood experiences of maltreatment, witnessing of interpersonal violence as a child, childhood stays in foster care, and experiences with interpersonal violence as an adult. Findings add to the understanding of the risk factors for child maltreatment that are related to the collateral effects of having a disability, and through the use of income-adjusted data, help disentangle why parents with disabilities are over-represented in the child welfare system. The findings highlight the need for the child welfare system to increase its disability competence in working with both children and parents with disabilities.Item Examining the relationship: fathers’ parenting support and parenting stress on family violence(2012-11) Kimball, ErickaParenthood is a life-changing event that requires preparation and understanding of a child's needs. Since parenting skills are often acquired and not instinctual (Lamb, 1986), it is important to understand the process of how men learn to become parents. Men are often taught not to be caregivers (Parke & Beitel, 1986), resulting in a lack of experience in the role of caregiver and making them feel less skilled and less confident in their ability to parent (Lamb, 1986). Furthermore, men who were exposed to domestic violence as children may learn to use violence to solve conflict, deal with stress, and maintain control over another person (Straus, Gelles, & Smith, 1990). This may lead to an increased risk for perpetration of violence against women and children (Black, Sussman, & Unger, 2010; Margolin, Gordis, Medina, & Oliver, 2003; Stith et al., 2000; Wareham, Boots, & Chavez, 2009). A review of literature provides the empirical underpinnings on the risks of parenting stress and child exposure to domestic violence and the benefits of social support. Using social learning theory and ecological systems theory as a guide, a conceptual model was developed that provided a testable model of the relationship between parenting support's and parenting stress on the subsequent associated risks for family violence. A national study of fathers was conducted to test this model. Participants were asked about their history of exposure to domestic violence in childhood and the type, amount and use of parenting support. They also completed three standardized measures on parenting stress, child abuse potential, and propensity for abusiveness. The results of the study affirmed the protective nature of social support in reducing parenting stress and risks for family violence. There were significant differences in parenting stress, child abuse potential, and propensity for abusiveness between fathers who reported exposure to domestic violence in childhood and those that did not report exposure. The results of the analysis indicate that social support--both access and use--has a relationship with parenting stress and potential and propensity for abuse. The access to and use of parenting support by men who were exposed to domestic violence did have a significant relationship on parenting stress and potential and propensity for abuse. This research highlights the importance of assessing for and encouraging the use of parenting support in social work practice. Additionally, public policies need to be developed that actively encourage fathers beyond the focus on economic support. Finally, further research is needed to gain a better understanding of how exposure to domestic violence during childhood affects people throughout their lifespan.Item Factors related to the development, maintenance, and/or resolution of unresolved/disorganized states of mind regarding abuse in a sample of maltreated individuals.(2010-05) Whaley, Gloria J. L.This is the first prospective study of male and female child abuse survivors to investigate the rates of unresolved/disorganized states of mind with respect to abuse (U/d abuse) classifications and factors that increase or decrease the risk of being classified as U/d abuse during late adolescence and/or adulthood. Participants were drawn from an ongoing longitudinal study of families from low socioeconomic backgrounds. The present sample (n = 42; 19 males, 23 females) includes only individuals who were identified prospectively as having experienced childhood physical and/or sexual abuse by a caregiver and for whom scores from the Adult Attachment Interview for U/d abuse were available at age 19 and/or 26 years. The following constructs were included in analyses: infant attachment representations; maltreatment circumstances; dissociative symptoms across childhood and adolescence; relationships with parents, friends, and romantic partners over time. Based on findings from previous longitudinal studies and attachment theory, it was hypothesized that disorganized/disoriented (D/d) attachment classifications in infancy would relate significantly to U/d abuse classifications, but that the circumstances of abuse (type, chronicity, or age of onset) would not relate significantly to U/d abuse status. Dissociative symptoms over time were anticipated to predict U/d abuse classifications. Positive and supportive relationships with others over time were expected to predict lower rates of U/d abuse classifications. Finally, following a cumulative risk perspective, it was expected that the added influence of severe trauma, a history of D/d infant attachment, high degrees of dissociation, poor relationships over time, and insecure states of mind would significantly predict U/d abuse status. Results revealed that approximately 36 percent of participants received U/d abuse classifications at age 19 and 41 percent at age 26, with little stability between the two assessments. Cumulative risk was significantly predictive of U/d abuse classifications. D/d infant attachment was a strong predictor of U/d abuse at age 19 but not at age 26 years. The circumstances of abuse, dissociative symptoms, secure infant attachment status, or the quality of important relationships by themselves were not significantly related to U/d abuse status at either age. Findings and needed future areas of research are discussed.Item Methamphetamine-involved parenting and the risk of child maltreatment: Family experiences and the child welfare response(2015-12) Kincaid, TamaraIn the last two decades, methamphetamine-involved parenting has presented some unique challenges to child protective services social workers. In order for social workers to effectively intervene with these families, we must understand the experiences of those who have lived through this phenomenon. This mixed-methods study uses qualitative interviews of parents and children to identify maltreatment risks to which the children were exposed, and the parenting strengths that mitigated those risks. Quantitative measures of parent and child psychosocial functioning were used to understand the context of the risks and subsequent outcomes for family members. The typical child welfare response is described utilizing risk assessment tools. Family members described between 11 and 21 child maltreatment risks to which the children had been exposed. While the children as a group averaged near normal in psychosocial functioning measures, older female children seemed to demonstrate the most negative effects. The majority of parents scored in clinically significant ranges for both physical and mental health problems. At the same time, many of the family members were able to describe instances when the parents made efforts to protect their children from maltreatment risks. Overall, this study points to opportunities for child protection interventions to focus on strengths of parents to protect their children from the child maltreatment risks due to methamphetamine-involved parenting.Item Understanding social and cultural differences in perceiving child maltreatment.(2009-06) Shanalingigwa, Oswald AbelAbstract This cross-cultural study sought to examine how parents from other parts of the world and who differ in culture, evaluate practices that are, or might be, harmful to children. The objective was to examine respondents' judgment of acceptability of the behavior, perception of severity and their attitudes toward reporting such situations. The study focused on thirteen (13) categories of child maltreatment as evaluated by parents born and raised on the African continent and parents born and/or raised in the United States. The responses of the two groups of parents were then compared and contrasted with the responses of child welfare professionals in Minnesota. This study is, in part, a replication of Giovannoni and Becerra's [Giovannoni, J., & Becerra, R. 1979 research on defining child maltreatment, Defining child abuse: New York: The Free Press]. It expands Giovannoni & Becerra's 1979 study, which examined how health and welfare professionals defined child abuse and neglect and rated the severity of specific instances of maltreatment. Participants for the study were drawn from the metropolitan area of St. Paul, Minnesota. Data for the cross-cultural study were collected by means of a self-administered vignette questionnaire that was distributed to the three key groups: parents born and raised on the African continent, parents born or raised in the U.S., and child welfare professionals in Anoka and Washington Counties in Minnesota. From the various findings of this study it is established that respondents' culture contributed significantly to the perceptions of child maltreatment situations. Respondents differed in their definitions, perception of seriousness and reporting potential abusive situations. Implications of the findings are discussed.