Maltreatment and Behavioral Characteristics of Youth Who Are Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing

This paper summarizes the available literature on child abuse and neglect among children with disabilities in general and considers children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing within this larger rubric given the low prevalence rates of children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing among the disabled population. This procedure allows for comparisons between disabilities as well as abused and non-abused children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing. Maltreatment data on children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing in a large epidemiological study of the prevalence of child maltreatment among children with disabilities are summarized. Children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing comprised 6.1% of the disabled population who were identified as victims of maltreatment. Their most prevalent form of maltreatment was neglect, followed by physical abuse and sexual abuse. Although children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing are significantly more likely to be maltreated by immediate family members, placement in a residential school is a risk factor for sexual and physical abuse. Maltreated children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing exhibit significantly more behavior problems including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder related behaviors than nonmaltreated peers.     

Risk of Fatal Injury in Young Children Following Abuse Allegations: Evidence From a Prospective,Population-Based Study

Objectives. We examined variations in children’s risk of an unintentional or intentional fatal injury following an allegation of physical abuse, neglect, or other maltreatment.Methods. We linked records of 514 232 children born in California from 1999 to 2006 and referred to child protective services for maltreatment to vital birth and death data. We used multivariable Cox regression models to estimate variations in risk of fatal injury before age 5 years and modeled maltreatment allegations as time-varying covariates.Results. Children with a previous allegation of physical abuse sustained fatal injuries at 1.7 times the rate of children referred for neglect. Stratification by manner of injury showed that children with an allegation of physical abuse died from intentional injuries at a rate 5 times as high as that for children with an allegation of neglect, yet faced a significantly lower risk of unintentional fatal injury.Conclusions. These data suggest conceptual differences between physical abuse and neglect. Findings indicate that interventions consistent with the form of alleged maltreatment may be appropriate, and heightened monitoring of young children referred for physical abuse may advance child protection.In the United States in 2011, 6.2 million children were referred to child protective services (CPS) for abuse or neglect.1 When the demographic profile of referred children is compared with that of the general population, it becomes clear these children face multiple individual,2–4 family,5–7 and community8,9 risk factors. Among children referred to CPS, however, the accurate identification of those for whom the threat is most immediate and consequential has proven difficult.10 High rates of maltreatment rereferrals among children with initially unfounded allegations,11–13 and child maltreatment deaths despite CPS involvement,1 point to the challenge of accurately assessing children’s current and future risk of abuse and neglect.One possible indicator of the nature and severity of the physical threat faced by a child is the type of alleged maltreatment. Nationally, more than three quarters of children are referred to CPS for neglect (78.5%); far fewer are referred as possible victims of physical abuse (17.6%).1 Despite high rates of concurrence between maltreatment types,14–17 it is notable that physical abuse is alleged for only a minority of children. Because of the ambiguity surrounding what constitutes child neglect (broadly defined as acts of parental omission that endanger children),17 an allegation of physical abuse for a child younger than 5 years may be a more reliable marker of safety concerns that necessitate CPS intervention. In other words, although many children referred for neglect may also experience varying degrees of physical abuse, if the physical abuse is so severe or chronic that it is explicitly alleged, this may be an important signal of risk.Public health researchers use variations in rates of death as population-based indicators reflective of broader group disparities in health, safety, and well-being.18,19 Similarly, variable rates of fatalities among children previously referred for maltreatment may provide a means of differentiating among high-risk subsets of children. Although death is a relatively rare event, group differences in fatality rates suggest variable exposures to antecedent risk factors. Previous research indicates that children with a history of CPS referrals have an increased risk of death by injury and other causes.20–24 We examined whether children previously referred for physical abuse had an increased risk of both unintentional and intentional fatal injury compared with children referred for neglect and children referred for other forms of maltreatment.     

深圳市南山区7 940名学龄前儿童感觉加工能力分析

目的 调查南山区学龄前儿童感觉加工能力。方法 采用整群抽样的方式,对深圳南山区84所幼托机构儿童的家长发放“简式感觉剖析量表”进行问卷调查。结果 学龄前男童与女童比较,男童的味觉/嗅觉敏感性(P=0.007)、运动敏感性(P=0.005)、低反应度/寻求感觉(P<0.001)、听觉过滤(P<0.001)得分低于女童。3岁组儿童运动敏感性、低反应性/寻求感觉、听觉过滤因子分较低,5岁组儿童运动敏感性(P<0.001)、低反应性/寻求感觉(P<0.001)、听觉过滤(P<0.001)、精神不振/虚弱(P<0.001)因子分较3岁组与4岁组儿童高。运动敏感性、低反应性/寻求感觉、听觉过滤、精神不振/虚弱因子分随年龄增长呈增高趋势。结论 男童的感觉加工困难程度高于女童,学龄前儿童的感觉加工变异随着年龄增长呈逐渐减缓趋势。     

Psychological abuse between parents: associations with child maltreatment from a population‐based sample

Psychological abuse between parents: associations with child maltreatment from a population‐based sample
Chang, J. J. , Theodore, A. D. , Martin, S. L. & Runyan, D. K. ( 2008 ) Child Abuse & Neglect , 32 , 819 – 829 . Objective This study examined the association between partner psychological abuse and child maltreatment perpetration. Methods This cross‐sectional study examined a population‐based sample of mothers with children aged 0–17 years in North and South Carolina (n = 1149). Mothers were asked about the occurrence of potentially neglectful or abusive behaviours towards their children by either themselves or their husband/partner in the past year. Partner psychological abuse was categorized as no psychological abuse (reference), husband perpetrates, wife perpetrates or both perpetrates. Outcome measures for psychological and physical abuse of the child had four categories: no abuse (reference), mother perpetrates, father/father‐figure perpetrates or both parents perpetrates, whereas child neglect was binary. Adjusted relative risk ratios (aRRRs), adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated with regression models. A relative risk ratio was the ratio of odds ratios derived from multinomial logistic regression. Results Children were at the greatest risk of maltreatment when parents psychologically abused each other versus no abuse: the aRRR for child psychological abuse by the mother only was 16.13 (95% CI 5.11, 50.92) compared with no abuse, controlling for child age, gender, Medicaid welfare and mother's level of education. Both parents psychologically abuse each other versus no abuse also results in an aRRR of 14.57 (95% CI 3.85, 55.16) for child physical abuse by both parents compared with no abuse. When only the husband perpetrates towards the wife, the odds of child neglect was 5.29 times as much as families with no psychological abuse (95% CI 1.36, 20.62). Conclusions Partner psychological abuse was strongly related to child maltreatment. Children experienced a substantially increased risk of maltreatment when partner psychological abuse was present in the homes. Practice implications This study observed that intimate partner psychological abuse significantly increased risk of child maltreatment. Increased public awareness of partner psychological abuse is warranted. Primary prevention should include education about the seriousness of partner psychological abuse in families. Domestic violence and child welfare agencies must recognize the link between partner psychological abuse and child maltreatment and work together to develop effective screening for each of these problems.     

Childhood abuse and neglect and the risk of STDs in early adulthood

CONTEXT: Given the threat posed by STDs in young adulthood, identifying early predictors of STD risk is a priority. Exposure to childhood maltreatment has been linked to sexual risk behaviors, but its association with STDs is unclear. METHODS: Associations between maltreatment by parents or other adult caregivers during childhood and adolescence and STD outcomes in young adulthood were examined using data on 8,922 respondents to Waves 1, 3 and 4 of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Four types of maltreatment (sexual abuse, physical abuse, supervision neglect and physical neglect) and two STD outcomes (self‐reported recent and test‐identified current STD) were assessed. Multivariate logistic regression analyses, stratified by sex, tested for moderators and mediators. RESULTS: Among females, even after adjustment for socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, self‐report of a recent STD was positively associated with sexual abuse (odds ratio, 1.8), physical abuse (1.7), physical neglect (2.1) and supervision neglect (1.6). Additionally, a positive association between physical neglect and having a test‐identified STD remained significant after further adjustments for exposure to other types of maltreatment and sexual risk behaviors (1.8). Among males, the only association (observed only in an unadjusted model) was between physical neglect and test‐identified STD (1.6). CONCLUSIONS: Young women who experienced physical neglect as children are at increased risk of test‐identified STDs in young adulthood, and exposure to any type of maltreatment is associated with an elevated likelihood of self‐reported STDs. Further research is needed to understand the behavioral mechanisms and sexual network characteristics that underlie these associations.     

儿童期虐待类型与青少年焦虑抑郁关系的相对权重分析

目的 探讨儿童期虐待类型对青少年焦虑、抑郁影响的相对效应及其性别差异,为经历虐待以及焦虑、抑郁的青少年开展干预提供参考.方法 采用方便抽样法选取重庆市2所中学6 228名中学生作为研究对象进行问卷星调查,调查人口统计学特征、儿童期虐待经历以及焦虑、抑郁情况.采用相对权重分析不同虐待经历对青少年焦虑、抑郁的影响及其性别差...     

Does Type of Harm Matter? A Factorial Survey Examining the Influence of Child Neglect on Child Protection Decision-making

Child maltreatment remains a serious social problem, with neglect arguably the most pernicious manifestation. Neglect is characterised by a chronic failure to provide for a child's basic needs and often co-exists with other forms of maltreatment. It usually occurs in a complex social environment where socio-economic disadvantage is rife and the family experiences numerous concurrent risk factors. The consequences of child neglect are pervasive and profound. However, there is little research on child protection decision-making as it relates to child neglect. The aim of this study was to explore social workers’ decision-making and intervention levels according to type of maltreatment with a particular focus on neglect. The study involved secondary analysis of factorial survey data. Fictitious vignettes (n = 327) with randomly assigned variables were rated by social workers. Multiple regression was used to examine the effect that the type of harm had on decision-making about risk, service provision, home visits and family contact. Social workers responded differently when the harm was child neglect. The respondents attributed a lower level of risk, a less intense service provision and fewer contact hours compared with when the harm was physical abuse or sexual abuse. In conclusion, neglect is the most common form of substantiated maltreatment. Child protection workers responding to vignettes respond to the maltreatment of neglect less intensively despite the preponderance of knowledge about the harmful effects of child neglect. This research indicates that further examination of decision-making in cases of child neglect is warranted.     

中国儿童虐待流行病学研究的文献系统评价研究

目的 初步掌握中国0~17岁儿童虐待问题的流行现状,为制定和实施预防儿童虐待策略提供建议。方法 通过对近20年(1992-2012年)的国内外文献进行检索,获取较全面的、有代表性的中国儿童虐待流行病学研究资料,参考证据质量分级和推荐强度系统(GRADE)方法编制了文献质量评价体系,对文献质量和内容进行系统分析。结果 筛选出84篇文献综合分析中国儿童虐待的流行现状的文献,其中仅研究躯体虐待的文献有11篇,仅研究情感虐待的有3篇,仅研究性虐待的15篇,仅研究忽视的12篇,其余均为多种虐待同时研究。1)躯体虐待:城市地区儿童遭受躯体虐待的发生率为41.2%~67.3%,农村地区为32.4%~39.4%。不同研究对躯体虐待的测量方法不一致。2)情感虐待:目前尚没有统一的情感虐待测量方法,不同研究显示的儿童情感虐待发生率存在较大差异,发生率在10.6%~67.1%之间。3)性虐待:现有研究比较多的是调查16岁前发生的性虐待,多采用成年人回顾的方式进行调查。男性遭受性虐待的发生率为10.2%~23.0%,女性遭受性虐待的发生率为14.2%~25.5%。4)忽视:国内研究者从1999年开始进行忽视评价工具和标准的研究,形成了适用于城乡人群、针对不同年龄阶段儿童的中国忽视评价量表。城市3~17岁儿童的被忽视发生率为22.4%~32.8%,农村0~6岁儿童的被忽视发生率为53.7%~54.9%,暂无农村6岁以上儿童被忽视发生率的数据。结论 中国儿童虐待问题不容忽视,需要在儿童虐待定义、调查工具编制、全国流行现状等方面开展深入研究。     

The Role of Stress in the Commission of Subsequent Acts of Child Abuse and Neglect

Data from 1,874 clients, reported to authorities and treated for abusive or neglectful treatment of children, were examined to determine the role of stressin the commission of subsequent actsof abuseand neglect.Several case, client, and family characteristics were examined. It was hypothesized that the presence of stressful events would not only have a significant effect on the commission of subsequent acts of child maltreatment but would explain much of the observed variance. The results indicated that the presence of stressful events, as well as seriousness of the initial incident of child abuse, had significant effects (both at the p<.000 level) on the commission of subsequent acts of child maltreatment. However, the presence of stressful events did not explain most of the observed variance. In fact, the inclusion of the variable of stressful events only increased the variance explained by 6%.     

Preventing Early Child Maltreatment: Implications from a Longitudinal Study of Maternal Abuse History,Substance Use Problems,and Offspring Victimization

In the interest of improving child maltreatment prevention science, this longitudinal, community based study of 499 mothers and their infants tested the hypothesis that mothers’ childhood history of maltreatment would predict maternal substance use problems, which in turn would predict offspring victimization. Mothers (35% White/non-Latina, 34% Black/non-Latina, 23% Latina, 7% other) were recruited and interviewed during pregnancy, and child protective services records were reviewed for the presence of the participants’ target infants between birth and age 26 months. Mediating pathways were examined through structural equation modeling and tested using the products of the coefficients approach. The mediated pathway from maternal history of sexual abuse to substance use problems to offspring victimization was significant (standardized mediated path [ab] = .07, 95% CI [.02, .14]; effect size = .26), as was the mediated pathway from maternal history of physical abuse to substance use problems to offspring victimization (standardized mediated path [ab] = .05, 95% CI [.01, .11]; effect size = .19). There was no significant mediated pathway from maternal history of neglect. Findings are discussed in terms of specific implications for child maltreatment prevention, including the importance of assessment and early intervention for maternal history of maltreatment and substance use problems, targeting women with maltreatment histories for substance use services, and integrating child welfare and parenting programs with substance use treatment.     

Child maltreatment in Missouri: combining data for public health surveillance

BACKGROUND: Public health surveillance was established for nonfatal child maltreatment in Missouri using two data sources. This paper describes the epidemiology of nonfatal child maltreatment using this surveillance system, and assesses the usefulness of combining medical data with child protective services (CPS) reports for child maltreatment surveillance. METHODS: Child abuse and neglect reports for children aged <10 years for 2000 were obtained from the Missouri Division of Family Services (DFS) and linked to hospital discharge and emergency department (ED) data for 2000. Children were classified as maltreated if they had an International Classification of Disease (ICD) maltreatment code for a hospital or ED visit, or a substantiated report to DFS. Validity of the ICD maltreatment codes was assessed in a 10% random sample of the hospital/ED visits. Medical records were reviewed to determine the accuracy of the maltreatment code assigned. The data analyses reported here were conducted in 2002 and 2003. RESULTS: In the linked data, 5657 children met the case definition of maltreatment, providing a nonfatal maltreatment rate of 7.4/1000 children. Rates were higher among children aged <1 year (8.4/1000), females (7.7/1000), African Americans (11.8/1000), and children residing in rural counties (8.7/1000). The hospital/ED data identified proportionately more children who were African American, urban, physically abused, or infants, and uniquely identified only 10% of the total cases. In the validation sample, maltreatment was documented in 110 (87%) of the 127 records reviewed. CONCLUSIONS: CPS and medical data can be linked for surveillance. However, the medical data add few unique cases and identify only a subset of maltreated children.     

儿童期受虐待经历与大学生自杀意念的关联

目的研究儿童期受虐待经历与大学生自杀意念之间的关联,为保障大学生的身心健康提供依据。方法2018年5-7月,运用多阶段随机整群抽样的方法,选取山西省6所大学的大学生(儿童期虐待有效调查人数3 854名,自杀意念有效调查3 882名),进行儿童期虐待问卷中文版和自杀意念自评量表调查。结果儿童期至少有过1种虐待经历的占42.4%,近1周内有过自杀意念的占3.9%。经χ~2检验,儿童期遭受过躯体虐待、情感虐待、性虐待、躯体忽视、情感忽视大学生自杀意念检出率均高于未遭受相应虐待大学生(χ2值分别为13.78,12.97,17.10,56.56,66.58,P值均<0.01);Spearman相关性分析结果显示,儿童期各型受虐待经历均和大学生自杀意念存在正相关(r值分别为0.06,0.06,0.07,0.12,0.13,P值均<0.01);多因素Logistic回归模型发现,在控制其他影响因素后,儿童期遭受躯体忽视以及情感忽视与大学生自杀意念发生呈正相关(OR值分别为2.18,2.07,P值均<0.05)。结论儿童期遭受躯体忽视和情感忽视可增加大学生自杀意念的风险。在儿童少年早期给予足够的关注和爱护可能有助于防止成年期自杀意念的产生。     

The burden of child maltreatment in China: a systematic review

Objective

To estimate the health and economic burdens of child maltreatment in China.

Methods

We did a systematic review for studies on child maltreatment in China using PubMed, Embase, PsycInfo, CINAHL-EBSCO, ERIC and the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases. We did meta-analyses of studies that met inclusion criteria to estimate the prevalence of child neglect and child physical, emotional and sexual abuse. We used data from the 2010 global burden of disease estimates to calculate disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) lost as a result of child maltreatment.

Findings

From 68 studies we estimated that 26.6% of children under 18 years of age have suffered physical abuse, 19.6% emotional abuse, 8.7% sexual abuse and 26.0% neglect. We estimate that emotional abuse in childhood accounts for 26.3% of the DALYs lost because of mental disorders and 18.0% of those lost because of self-harm. Physical abuse in childhood accounts for 12.2% of DALYs lost because of depression, 17.0% of those lost to anxiety, 20.7% of those lost to problem drinking, 18.8% of those lost to illicit drug use and 18.3% of those lost to self-harm. The consequences of physical abuse of children costs China an estimated 0.84% of its gross domestic product – i.e. 50 billion United States dollars – in 2010. The corresponding losses attributable to emotional and sexual abuse in childhood were 0.47% and 0.39% of the gross domestic product, respectively.

Conclusion

In China, child maltreatment is common and associated with large economic losses because many maltreated children suffer substantial psychological distress and might adopt behaviours that increase their risk of chronic disease.     

Nonfatal maltreatment of infants--United States, October 2005-September 2006

During October 2005-September 2006 (federal fiscal year 2006), approximately 905,000 U.S. children were victims of maltreatment that was substantiated by state and local child protective services (CPS) agencies. Approximately 19% of child maltreatment fatalities occurred among infants (i.e., persons aged <1 year), and homicide statistics suggest that fatality risk might be greatest in the first week of life. However, the risk for nonfatal maltreatment among infants has not been examined previously at the national level. To determine the extent of nonfatal infant maltreatment in the United States, CDC and the federal Administration for Children and Families (ACF) analyzed data collected in fiscal year 2006 (the most recent data available) from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS). This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which indicated that, in fiscal year 2006, a total of 91,278 infants aged <1 year (rate: 23.2 per 1,000 population) experienced nonfatal maltreatment, including 29,881 (32.7%) who were aged < or =1 week. Neglect was the maltreatment category cited for 68.5% of infants aged < or =1 week, but NCANDS data did not permit further characterization of the nature of this neglect. Developing effective measures to prevent maltreatment of infants aged < or =1 week will require more detailed characterization of neglect in this age group.     

Internalizing Problems: A Potential Pathway From Childhood Maltreatment to Adolescent Smoking

PurposeThis study examines the association between childhood maltreatment and adolescent smoking and the extent to which internalizing behavioral problems mediate this hypothesized link.MethodsData from 522 youth at ages 12, 14, and 16 and from their caregivers were obtained as part of a prospective, longitudinal study of child abuse and neglect (LONGSCAN). Official Child Protective Services (CPS) reports of maltreatment and self-reported abusive experiences of children aged 12 were obtained for this study. Internalizing behavioral problems were reported by caregivers for the adolescents at age 14. Cigarette use was self-reported by adolescents at age 16.ResultsA significantly higher proportion of maltreated youth (19%) reported having smoked in the last 30 days compared with nonmaltreated youth (7%). A history of childhood maltreatment predicted smoking at the age of 16. Maltreatment history was associated with internalizing problems at the age of 14, and internalizing problems were associated with smoking. Finally, internalizing behaviors partially mediated the link between childhood maltreatment by the age of 12 years and adolescent smoking at 16.ConclusionsInternalizing problems are one mediating pathway by which adolescents with a history of childhood maltreatment may initiate smoking behavior during mid-adolescence. Given the elevated rate of smoking among maltreated adolescents, it is important to identify potential pathways to better guide prevention strategies. These finding suggest that youth with a history of maltreatment should be identified as a high-risk group, and that efforts to identify and address internalizing problems in this population may be an important area of intervention to reduce smoking among adolescents.     

Childhood psychological, physical, and sexual maltreatment in outpatients with binge eating disorder: frequency and associations with gender, obesity, and eating-related psychopathology

OBJECTIVE: To examine rates of reported childhood maltreatment in binge eating disorder (BED), and to explore associations with obesity, gender, eating disorder features, and associated functioning. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Subjects were 145 consecutive outpatients with BED as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4(th) edition. Subjects were interviewed and they completed questionnaires to assess eating disorder features and functioning. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire was given to assess childhood maltreatment in five domains (emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional neglect, and physical neglect). RESULTS: A total of 83% of BED patients reported some form of childhood maltreatment. A total of 59% of BED patients reported emotional abuse, 36% reported physical abuse, 30% reported sexual abuse, 69% reported emotional neglect, and 49% reported physical neglect. There were no differences in the distribution of any form of childhood maltreatment by gender or by obesity status. The different forms of maltreatment were not associated with variability in current body mass index, binge eating, or in the attitudinal features of eating disorders. Only one of the five forms of maltreatment (physical neglect) was associated with dietary restraint in women. Emotional abuse was significantly associated with greater body dissatisfaction, higher depression, and lower self-esteem in men and women and sexual abuse was associated with greater body dissatisfaction in men. The different forms of maltreatment were unrelated to the age at onset of overweight, dieting, or binge eating. DISCUSSION: BED outpatients reported a wide range of childhood experiences of maltreatment that do not differ by gender or obesity status. Different forms of maltreatment were not associated with the onset of overweight, dieting, or binge eating, or with variability in current body mass index or eating disorder features (except for one association between physical neglect and dietary restraint). Reports of emotional abuse were associated with greater body dissatisfaction and depression and lower self-esteem in men and women and sexual abuse with greater body dissatisfaction in men.     

农村青少年童年期虐待与自杀行为的关联

  目的  探讨童年期虐待与青少年自杀行为的关联,为制定自杀预防策略提供科学依据。  方法  采用多阶段分层整群随机抽样方法,从安徽、广东、云南、黑龙江和湖北农村地区共纳入16 271名中学生。采用结构化问卷收集研究对象一般情况、童年期忽视、虐待情况以及调查前1年内的自杀意念、自杀计划、自杀未遂情况,运用多因素Logistic回归模型分析童年期忽视、虐待与自杀意念、自杀计划和自杀未遂的关联。  结果  农村青少年自杀意念、自杀计划和自杀未遂的发生人数分别为2 453(15.1%)、1 164(7.2%)和572(3.5%)人,童年期忽视、中度和重度躯体虐待的发生人数分别为10 756(66.1%),4 311(26.5%)和703(4.3%)人。单因素分析显示,童年期忽视、虐待与自杀意念、自杀计划、自杀未遂相关均有统计学意义(P值均 < 0.05)。在控制年龄、性别、独生子女、父母文化程度、经济收入、情绪管理和社会支持因素后,童年期忽视、虐待与自杀意念、自杀计划、自杀未遂差异均有统计学意义(OR=1.62~5.14,P值均 < 0.05),其中重度躯体虐待的OR值(95%CI)分别为3.00(2.49~3.62),3.52(2.81~4.40), 5.14(3.87~6.83)。  结论  童年期忽视和虐待可能会增加农村青少年自杀行为发生风险,应积极采取有效措施减少童年期忽视虐待,预防自杀。      

Child maltreatment investigations and substantiations in child protection services: Factors distinguishing children with intellectual disabilities

BackgroundChildren with intellectual disabilities (ID) are more vulnerable to maltreatment than children without ID. Few studies focused on understanding the experiences of maltreatment of children with ID, limiting our capacity to adequately care for them.ObjectiveThis study examined the types of maltreatment with which ID is associated among child protection investigations, and identified the individual, environmental, and service-related factors distinguishing children with ID from those without, among children with substantiated maltreatment.MethodsSecondary data from an incidence study on investigated child maltreatment including 2053 children aged 6–17 years old were analyzed through univariate and multivariate logistic regressions. ID was present for 5.7% (n = 117) of the children.ResultsID was associated with increased odds of being investigated for neglect and decreased odds of being investigated or substantiated for psychological maltreatment. The factors that most distinguished children with ID from other children were physical disabilities (8.45, p < 0.001) and autism spectrum disorder (11.33, p < 0.001) in the child and having at least one parent with ID (16.21, p < 0.001). Two other environmental factors, including having been reported by a professional (2.13, p = 0.047), distinguished children with ID from the other children.ConclusionsChildren with ID who experienced maltreatment present with greater adversity than children without ID. Professionals play a preponderant role in reporting situations of maltreatment for children with ID and need additional training to properly respond to maltreatment of children with ID.     

A cross-national exploration of societal-level factors associated with child physical abuse and neglect

Children around the world experience violence at the hands of their caregivers at alarming rates. A recent review estimates that a minimum of 50% of children in Asia, Africa, and North America experienced severe physical violence by caregivers in the past year, with large variations between countries. Identifying modifiable country-level factors driving these geographic variations has great potential for achieving population-level reductions in rates of child maltreatment. This study builds on previous research by focusing on caregiver-reported physical abuse and neglect victimisation, examining 22 societal factors representing 11 different constructs among 42 countries from 5 continents at different stages of development. Our findings suggest that gender inequity may be important for both child physical abuse and neglect. Indicators of literacy and development may also be important for child neglect. Given the limitations of the correlational findings and measurement issues, it is critical to continue to investigate societal-level factors of child maltreatment so that interventions and prevention efforts can incorporate strategies that have the greatest potential for population-level impact.