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A structural model of mechanisms predicting depressive symptoms in women following
childhood psychological maltreatment
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: Available online 12 November 2013
Source:Child Abuse & Neglect
Author(s): Aubrey A. Coates , Terri L. Messman-Moore
Two underlying mechanisms, emotion dysregulation and negative internalized beliefs, were examined as
potential mediators of the association between childhood psychological maltreatment (PM) and depression
in emerging adult women. PM was assessed as a multi-faceted construct including aspects of psychological
abuse (e.g., corrupting) and psychological neglect (e.g., emotional unresponsiveness) that occurred by
parents. Female undergraduates ( n = 771) completed anonymous, retrospective, self-report surveys
assessing childhood PM, current depressive symptoms, emotion dysregulation (lack of emotional clarity and
regulation strategies), and negative internalized beliefs (mistrust, shame, and defectiveness). Psychological
maltreatment was represented as four subtypes of psychological abuse or neglectful behavior: Emotional
Non-Responsiveness, Spurning/Terrorizing, Corrupting, and Demanding/Rigid (i.e., controlling behavior).
Both emotion dysregulation and negative internalized beliefs significantly mediated the link between
childhood PM and depressive symptoms, accounting for approximately 68% of the variance in
symptomatology. Findings suggest the importance of focusing intervention on development of emotion
regulation capacity including emotional awareness and regulatory strategies, as well as a focus on core
negative beliefs including shame, defectiveness, and mistrust of others. Implications for future research are
discussed.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Questionnaire and Adult Attachment Interview
(AAI): Implications for parent child relationships
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: Available online 24 October 2013
Source:Child Abuse & Neglect
Author(s): Anne Murphy , Miriam Steele , Shanta Rishi Dube , Jordan Bate , Karen Bonuck , Paul Meissner
, Hannah Goldman , Howard Steele
Although Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are linked to increased health problems and risk
behaviors in adulthood, there are no studies on the association between ACEs and adults’ states of mind
regarding their early childhood attachments, loss, and trauma experiences. To validate the ACEs questions,
we analyzed the association between ACEs and emotional support indicators and Adult Attachment
Interview (AAI) classifications in terms of unresolved mourning regarding past loss or trauma and discordant
states of mind in cannot classify (U/CC) interviews. Seventy-five urban women (41 clinical and 34
community) completed a questionnaire on ACEs, which included 10 categories of abuse, neglect, and
household dysfunction, in addition to emotional support. Internal psychological processes or states of mind
concerning attachment were assessed using the AAI. ACE responses were internally consistent
(Cronbach's α = .88). In the clinical sample, 84% reported ≥ 4 ACEs compared to 27% among the
community sample. AAIs judged U/CC occurred in 76% of the clinical sample compared to 9% in the
community sample. When ACEs were ≥ 4, 65% of AAIs were classified U/CC. Absence of emotional
support in the ACEs questionnaire was associated with 72% of AAIs being classified U/CC. As the number
of ACEs and the lack of emotional support increases so too does the probability of AAIs being classified as
U/CC. Findings provide rationale for including ACEs questions in pediatric screening protocols to identify
and offer treatment reducing the intergenerational transmission of risk associated with problematic
parenting.
Adverse childhood experiences, health perception, and the role of shared familial factors in
adult twins
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: November 2013
Source:Child Abuse & Neglect, Volume 37, Issue 11
Author(s): Sheeva M. Mostoufi , Eric Strachan , Laura Chopko , Annemarie Succop , Beatrice Martinez ,
Sandra M. Ahumada , Niloofar Afari
To examine the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and health perception in
adulthood, and to explore the contribution of shared familial factors to these associations. Data were
collected from 180 female twins (90 pairs) from the community-based University of Washington Twin
Registry. Participants completed questionnaires including the modified ACE Questionnaire, Traumatic Life
Events Questionnaire, McGill Pain Questionnaire-Short Form, and the SF-36. Mixed effects linear
regression modeling investigated the effects of ACE on indices of health perception controlling for
correlated twin data. Additional models examined the associations while controlling for the experience of
physical and/or sexual abuse in childhood; within-twin pair models that inherently adjust for familial factors
explored shared familial influences. After controlling for relevant demographic variables, more ACE was
associated with worse perceptions of general health ( p = .01) and vitality ( p = .05) on the SF-36. After
controlling for childhood physical and/or sexual abuse, the relationship between ACE and general health
remained significant ( p = .01) while vitality was no longer significant. None of the associations remained
significant after accounting for the influence of familial factors. These results support previous findings on
the negative link between ACE and perceived health in adulthood. The detrimental effects of ACE on vitality
may be accounted for by the experience of childhood physical and/or sexual abuse. Shared familial factors
might play a partial role in the relationship between ACE and health perception. Future research should
further investigate the genetic and environmental mechanisms that may explain this relationship.
Alcohol marketing in televised English professional football: a frequency analysis
30 Nov 2013 12:02 pm
Publication date: 29 November 2013
Source:The Lancet, Volume 382, Supplement 3
Author(s): Jean Adams , Andy Graham
Background Worldwide, almost 4% of deaths are attributable to alcohol. In the UK, there continues to be a
rise in alcohol-related hospital admissions. Alcohol is marketed through an integrated mix of strategies,
including TV, radio, and print advertising; point-of-sale promotions; new media approaches such as
advergames (ie, advertising in video games); and sponsorship of cultural and sporting events. Systematic
review evidence confirms that alcohol marketing increases the likelihood that young people will start to use
alcohol and will drink more if they already do so. Association football (referred to as football) is a globally
popular spectator sport across all age groups. Little previous research has quantified the full range of
alcohol marketing within televised sport and there has been no such research for football or within the UK.
We assessed the frequency of alcohol marketing in televised top-class English professional football
matches. Methods A purposive sample of six broadcasts of televised top-class English club football
matches broadcast in January and February, 2012, were identified and recorded. The sample was selected
to represent the full range of competitions that teams take part in, as well as broadcasts on different days
and at different times of day. A customised coding framework was used to identify and categorise all verbal
and visual alcohol references, as well as all formal alcohol commercials in the broadcasts. A random two
matches were double coded. Findings The six broadcasts consisted of 1101 broadcast minutes in total, and
one match each from the Barclay's Premier League, nPower Championship, UEFA (Union of European
Football Associations) Champion's League, UEFA Europa League, Budweiser FA (Football Association)
Cup, and Carling League Cup. The mean UK television audience for these broadcasts was 2·52 million (SD
1·53 million), with a mean of 9·5% (2·2) of the audience being aged younger than 18 years. Double coding
revealed discrepancies in the presence of only two visual alcohol references (of 521 in the double-coded
broadcasts). Visual references to alcohol were common (mean 111·3 per h, 95% CI 106·6–116·1). Nearly
all these references were to beer and they were mainly depictions of simple logos or other branding found
on pitch-side advertising hoardings; on the pitch before or after matches; or on-screen around replays,
substitutions, and score updates. Verbal alcohol references were much less common (mean 1·7 per h, 95%
CI 1·2–2·5) and most of these were related to sponsorship of specific competitions. 17 alcohol commercials
were included in the broadcasts, accounting for less than 1% of total broadcast time. Interpretation Because
a purposive sample of only six broadcasts was included, these results are not necessarily generalisable to
all televised English football matches. Nor was any attempt made to assess the effect of the marketing
identified on alcohol-related intentions or behaviour. The relative effects of different types of alcohol
marketing, and how these vary across population groups, remains unclear. In the UK, alcohol marketing is
subject to industry self-regulation with a focus on not appealing directly to children; not encouraging
overconsumption; and not associating alcohol with social or sexual success, irresponsible behaviour, or
illegal drugs. This approach to regulation fails to reflect the nature of alcohol marketing in contemporary
televised sport in which most marketing is constant repetition of simple logos. Further development of
regulation to represent the alcohol marketing environment is justified. Restriction of all alcohol sports
sponsorship, as seen for tobacco, may be warranted. Funding None.
Attachment insecurity mediates the relationship between childhood trauma and eating
disorder psychopathology in a clinical sample: A structural equation model
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: November 2013
Source:Child Abuse & Neglect, Volume 37, Issue 11
Author(s): Giorgio A. Tasca , Kerri Ritchie , Fotini Zachariades , Genevieve Proulx , Anne Trinneer , Louise
Balfour , Natasha Demidenko , Genevieve Hayden , Alison Wong , Hany Bissada
Objectives Childhood maltreatment occurs often among those with an eating disorder and is considered a
nonspecific risk factor. However, the mechanisms by which childhood maltreatment may lead to an eating
disorder are not well understood. The current study tests a model in which attachment insecurity is
hypothesized to mediate the relationship between childhood maltreatment and eating disorder
psychopathology. Method Treatment seeking adults with eating disorders ( N = 308) completed
questionnaires about childhood maltreatment, eating disorder psychopathology, and adult attachment.
Results Structural equation models indicated that childhood trauma had a direct effect on eating disorder
symptoms. Also, attachment anxiety and avoidance each equally mediated the childhood maltreatment to
eating disorder psychopathology relationship. Conclusions Attachment insecurity, characterized by affect
dysregulation and interpersonal sensitivities may help to explain why eating disorder symptoms may be one
consequence of childhood maltreatment in a clinical sample. Clinicians treating primarily those with trauma
might assess for disordered eating as a potential manifestation of the sequelae of trauma and attachment
insecurity.
Barriers to the Uptake of Emergency Accommodation by Young Runaways and Thrown-out
children and the Role of the ‘Transitional Person’
08 Nov 2013 08:39 am
Young runaways and thrown-out children, under-16, face a number of barriers to accessing safe emergency
accommodation. The need for such accommodation is not always apparent because children sometimes
make themselves invisible to services through fear of being returned or fear of being removed from
inappropriate accommodation. Young people's retrospective accounts of their experiences suggest the
importance of a ‘transitional person’, an adult who has a pivotal role in trust-building and who acts as a
conduit to services and helps runaway and thrown-out children overcome internal and external barriers to
uptake of emergency accommodation.
Child abuse and suicidal ideation among adolescents in China
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: November 2013
Source:Child Abuse & Neglect, Volume 37, Issue 11
Author(s): Sylvia Y.C.L. Kwok , Wenyu Chai , Xuesong He
The present study examined the relationship among physical abuse, psychological abuse, perceived family
functioning and adolescent suicidal ideation in Shanghai, China. Perceived family functioning was
investigated as a possible moderator between physical abuse, psychological abuse and suicidal ideation. A
cross sectional survey using convenience sampling was conducted. A total of 560 valid self-administered
questionnaires were completed by the students aged from 12 to 17 in Shanghai. Descriptive statistical
analyses, Pearson correlations analyses, and hierarchical regression analyses were adopted as methods of
data analyses. Results indicated that physical abuse was significantly associated with greater adolescent
suicidal ideation, while a higher level of perceived family functioning was significantly associated with lower
suicidal ideation. However, psychological abuse was not associated with suicidal ideation. Perceived family
functioning was shown to be a moderator between physical abuse and suicidal ideation. Specifically,
mutuality and family communication moderated the relationship between physical abuse and suicidal
ideation. To decrease adolescent suicidal ideation, measures are suggested to prevent physical abuse and
enhance family functioning. First, it is important to increase the parents’ awareness of the meaning and
boundaries of physical abuse, as well as the role it plays in contributing to adolescent suicidal ideation.
Second, parents should be taught appropriate parenting skills and knowledge and be guided to treat the
children as individuals with their unique personality, rights and privileges. Third, it is important to promote
family harmony, effective communication as well as mutual trust, concern and understanding among family
members.
Child and family-level correlates of direct and indirect peer victimization among children
ages 6–9
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: Available online 27 November 2013
Source:Child Abuse & Neglect
Author(s): Shamra Boel-Studt , Lynette M. Renner
The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and child and family-level correlates of direct and
indirect victimization by peers among children ages 6–9. Four hundred and twenty-five children were
included in the final sample. Data for this study were drawn from the first wave of the Developmental
Victimization Survey. Logistic regression models were used to examine associations between children's
demographics, anxiety, depression, anger, parent–child relationship, and exposure to family violence and
children's experience of direct or indirect victimization by peers. The results showed that increased
depression scores and exposure to family violence were associated with increased risk for direct and
indirect victimization by peers. Black children were more likely to experience direct victimization and less
likely to experience indirect victimization compared to White children. Child's race significantly moderated
the association between parental criticism and indirect victimization. Child's gender did not significantly
moderate these associations. Implications for developmentally specific prevention and intervention
approaches that are grounded in a social-ecological framework are discussed.
Child friendly spaces: Toward a grounded, community-based approach for strengthening
child protection practice in humanitarian crises Natural helpers play a critical role in
ensuring children's safety during and in the aftermath of crises
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: Available online 20 November 2013
Source:Child Abuse & Neglect
Author(s): Michael Wessells , Kathleen Kostelny
Child maltreatment and marijuana problems in young adults: Examining the role of motives
and emotion dysregulation
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: Available online 20 November 2013
Source:Child Abuse & Neglect
Author(s): Natalie Vilhena-Churchill , Abby L. Goldstein
It is well established that childhood maltreatment is an important predictor of marijuana use, but few studies
have examined the mechanisms underlying this relationship. The current study examines marijuana
motives as mediators of the relationship between childhood maltreatment and marijuana use in a sample of
young adults. In addition, pathways from childhood maltreatment to emotion dysregulation, coping motives,
and marijuana use were explored. Participants were 125 young adults (ages 19–25, 66.9% female)
recruited through online community advertising. All participants completed questionnaires assessing
childhood maltreatment, emotion dysregulation, marijuana motives, past year and past three-month
marijuana use, and marijuana problems. Correlational analyses revealed bivariate relationships between
childhood maltreatment, emotion dysregulation, marijuana motives and marijuana problems ( rs = .24–.50).
Mediation analyses revealed that coping motives mediated the relationship between childhood
maltreatment and marijuana problems, and emotion dysregulation was associated with marijuana problems
both directly and indirectly via coping motives. The present findings highlight emotion dysregulation and
coping motives as important underlying mechanisms in the relationship between childhood maltreatment
and marijuana problems.
Child maltreatment severity and adult trauma symptoms: Does perceived social support
play a buffering role?
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: November 2013
Source:Child Abuse & Neglect, Volume 37, Issue 11
Author(s): Sarah E. Evans , Anne L. Steel , David DiLillo
Objectives The current study investigates the moderating effect of perceived social support on associations
between child maltreatment severity and adult trauma symptoms. We extend the existing literature by
examining the roles of severity of multiple maltreatment types (i.e., sexual, physical, and emotional abuse;
physical and emotional neglect) and gender in this process. Methods The sample included 372 newlywed
individuals recruited from marriage license records. Participants completed a number of self-report
questionnaires measuring the nature and severity of child maltreatment history, perceived social support
from friends and family, and trauma-related symptoms. These questionnaires were part of a larger study,
investigating marital and intrapersonal functioning. We conducted separate, two-step hierarchical multiple
regression models for perceived social support from family and perceived social support from friends. In
each of these models, total trauma symptomatology was predicted from each child maltreatment severity
variable, perceived social support, and the product of the two variables. In order to examine the role of
gender, we conducted separate analyses for women and men. Results As hypothesized, increased severity
of several maltreatment types (sexual abuse, emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and physical neglect)
predicted greater trauma symptoms for both women and men, and increased physical abuse severity
predicted greater trauma symptoms for women. Perceived social support from both family and friends
predicted lower trauma symptoms across all levels of maltreatment for men. For women, greater perceived
social support from friends, but not from family, predicted decreased trauma symptoms. Finally, among
women, perceived social support from family interacted with child maltreatment such that, as the severity of
maltreatment (physical and emotional abuse, emotional neglect) increased, the buffering effect of perceived
social support from family on trauma symptoms diminished. Conclusions The results of the current study
shed new light on the potential for social support to shield individuals against long-term trauma symptoms,
and suggest the importance of strengthening perceptions of available social support when working with
adult survivors of child maltreatment.
Child sexual abuse and subsequent relational and personal functioning: The role of parental
support
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: Available online 5 November 2013
Source:Child Abuse & Neglect
Author(s): Natacha Godbout , John Briere , Stéphane Sabourin , Yvan Lussier
This study examined the role of nonoffending parental support in the relationship between child sexual
abuse (CSA) and later romantic attachment, psychiatric symptoms, and couple adjustment. Of 348 adults
engaged in stable romantic relationship, 59 (17%) reported sexual abuse. In this subgroup, 14% ( n = 8)
reported parental intervention after the abuse was disclosed (i.e., support), 15% ( n = 9) reported a lack of
parental intervention after abuse disclosure (i.e., nonsupport), and 71% ( n = 42) reported that their
nonabusive parent(s) was(were) unaware of their abuse. Results indicated that, compared to other groups,
CSA survivors with nonsupportive parents reported higher levels of anxious attachment, psychological
symptoms, and dyadic maladjustment. In contrast, CSA survivors with supportive parent(s) expressed
psychological and couple adjustment equivalent to non-abused participants, and lower attachment
avoidance, relative to all other groups. Path analysis revealed that insecure attachment completely
mediated the relationship between perceived parental support after CSA and later psychosocial outcomes.
An actor–partner interdependence model showed different patterns for men and women and highlighted the
importance of considering relational dynamics in dyads of CSA survivors. Overall, the results suggest that
perceived parental support serves as a protective factor among those exposed to CSA.
Childhood sexual experiences with an older partner among men who have sex with men in
Buenos Aires, Argentina
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: Available online 25 October 2013
Source:Child Abuse & Neglect
Author(s): Curtis Dolezal , Alex Carballo-Diéguez , Iván C. Balán , María A. Pando , Marina Mabragaña ,
Rubén Marone , Victoria Barreda , María M. Avila
This study sought to describe childhood sexual experiences with older partners (CSEOP) among men who
have sex with men (MSM) in Buenos Aires, Argentina. MSM were recruited through respondent driven
sampling. They responded to a computer administered self-interview with questions on CSEOP,
operationalized as manual, oral, genital, or anal contact prior to age 13 with a partner at least 4 years older.
Of the 500 respondents, only 25% identified as gay. Eighteen percent of the respondents reported CSEOP,
the majority of whom did not feel they were hurt by the experience and did not consider it to be childhood
sexual abuse (CSA). Over two-thirds of MSM who reported CSEOP said that their older partner was a
female. Only 4% of those with a female partner felt their experience was CSA compared to 44% of those
who had a male partner. Among all men reporting CSEOP, those who felt sexually abused were more likely
to have been physically forced or threatened, physically hurt, and emotionally hurt than those who did not
feel sexually abused. Having CSEOP, being hurt by the experiences, and perceiving the experiences as
sexual abuse were not associated with current HIV sexual risk or substance use behavior. In this sample of
MSM in Argentina, a substantial minority reported CSEOP. Those who felt they had been sexually abused
were much more likely to have had an older male partner than an older female partner, and were more
likely to report having been physically forced and threatened by their older partner.
Children Left Behind: How to Mitigate the Effects and Facilitate Emotional and Psychosocial
Development Supportive community networks can diminish the negative effects of parental
migration
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: Available online 22 November 2013
Source:Child Abuse & Neglect
Author(s): Martha Givaudan , Susan Pick
Corporal punishment in rural Colombian families: Prevalence, family structure and sociodemographic variables
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: Available online 23 November 2013
Source:Child Abuse & Neglect
Author(s): Martha Rocío González , Angela Trujillo , Noemí Pereda
Objective: To reveal the prevalence of corporal punishment in a rural area of Colombia and its correlates to
family structure and other socio-demographic variables. Method: A survey about childrearing and childcare
was developed for this study, including a specific question about corporal punishment that was developed
based on the Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS). Family structure was categorized as follows, based on previous
literature: ‘nuclear family,’ ‘single parent’ family, ‘extended family,’ ‘simultaneous family’ and ‘composed
family.’ Results: Forty-one percent of the parents surveyed admitted they had used corporal punishment of
their children as a disciplinary strategy. The type of family structure, the number of children living at home,
the age of the children, the gender of the parent who answered the survey, and the age and gender of the
partner were significant predictors of corporal punishment. Conclusion: Family structure is an important
variable in the understanding of corporal punishment, especially in regard to nuclear families that have a
large number of children and parents who started their parental role early in life.
Correlates of emotional congruence with children in sexual offenders against children: A
test of theoretical models in an incarcerated sample
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: Available online 7 November 2013
Source:Child Abuse & Neglect
Author(s): Ian V. McPhail , Chantal A. Hermann , Yolanda M. Fernandez
Emotional congruence with children is a psychological construct theoretically involved in the etiology and
maintenance of sexual offending against children. Research conducted to date has not examined the
relationship between emotional congruence with children and other psychological meaningful risk factors for
sexual offending against children. The current study derived potential correlates of emotional congruence
with children from the published literature and proposed three models of emotional congruence with
children that contain relatively unique sets of correlates: the blockage, sexual deviance, and psychological
immaturity models. Using Area under the Curve analysis, we assessed the relationship between emotional
congruence with children and offense characteristics, victim demographics, and psychologically meaningful
risk factors in a sample of incarcerated sexual offenders against children ( n = 221). The sexual deviance
model received the most support: emotional congruence with children was significantly associated with
deviant sexual interests, sexual self-regulation problems, and cognition that condones and supports child
molestation. The blockage model received partial support, and the immaturity model received the least
support. Based on the results, we propose a set of further predictions regarding the relationships between
emotional congruence with children and other psychologically meaningful risk factors to be examined in
future research.
Cumulative childhood trauma and psychological maladjustment of sexually abused children
in Korea: Mediating effects of emotion regulation
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: Available online 25 October 2013
Source:Child Abuse & Neglect
Author(s): Ji Young Choi , Kyung Ja Oh
The purpose of the present study was to identify the mediating effects of emotion regulation on the
association between cumulative childhood trauma and behavior problems in sexually abused children in
Korea, using structural equation modeling (SEM). Data were collected on 171 children (ages 6–13 years)
referred to a public counseling center for sexual abuse in Seoul, Korea. Cumulative childhood traumas were
defined on the basis of number of traumas (physical abuse, witnessing domestic violence, neglect,
traumatic separation from parent, and sexual abuse) and the severity and duration of traumas. Children
were evaluated by their parents on emotion regulation using the Emotion Regulation Checklist and
internalizing and externalizing behavior problems using the Korean-Child Behavior Checklist. SEM analyses
confirmed the complete mediation model, in which emotion dysregulation fully mediates the relationship
between cumulative childhood traumas and internalizing/externalizing behavior problems. These findings
indicate that emotion regulation is an important mechanism that can explain the negative effects of
cumulative childhood traumas and that there is a need to focus on emotion regulation in sexually abused
children exposed to cumulative trauma.
Cumulative trauma and symptom complexity in children: A path analysis
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: November 2013
Source:Child Abuse & Neglect, Volume 37, Issue 11
Author(s): Monica Hodges , Natacha Godbout , John Briere , Cheryl Lanktree , Alicia Gilbert , Nicole Taylor
Kletzka
Multiple trauma exposures during childhood are associated with a range of psychological symptoms later in
life. In this study, we examined whether the total number of different types of trauma experienced by
children ( cumulative trauma ) is associated with the complexity of their subsequent symptomatology, where
complexity is defined as the number of different symptom clusters simultaneously elevated into the clinical
range. Children's symptoms in six different trauma-related areas (e.g., depression, anger, posttraumatic
stress) were reported both by child clients and their caretakers in a clinical sample of 318 children. Path
analysis revealed that accumulated exposure to multiple different trauma types predicts symptom
complexity as reported by both children and their caretakers.
Depression and Parenting by Nonoffending Mothers of Children Who Experienced Sexual
Abuse
27 Nov 2013 04:13 pm
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, Volume 22, Issue 8, Page 915-930, November-December 2013.
Developmental and contextual factors in the role of severe childhood trauma in geriatric
depression: The sample case of former indentured child laborers
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: November 2013
Source:Child Abuse & Neglect, Volume 37, Issue 11
Author(s): Kate Ryan Kuhlman , Andreas Maercker , Rahel Bachem , Keti Simmen , Andrea Burri
The purpose of this study was to quantify the association between childhood traumatic experiences and
geriatric depression (GDS) in a population of elderly who were exposed to severe childhood trauma. We
aimed to identify the role of childhood maltreatment exposure in geriatric depression and the developmental
and contextual factors that exacerbate this relationship. We interviewed 141 former indentured child
laborers (58 females) about their experiences as children and their current depressive symptoms ( M age =
77, SD = 6.8). Participants provided their age, the year they were first indentured, duration indentured,
current physical health, completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and the Geriatric
Depression Scale (GDS). Child maltreatment, specifically emotional abuse, was strongly associated with
geriatric depression symptoms. These effects were specific to individuals who were removed from their
biological families between the ages of 3 and 9 years, and for children who were indentured for 6–12 years.
Finally, depression partially mediated the association between medical conditions and daily health
impairment, but not for individuals “at risk” for depression by virtue of their maltreatment experiences. This
study was conducted with a specific subpopulation of elderly and therefore may not generalize to all
geriatric depression, nor to all generations or populations with exposure to childhood adversity. This study
demonstrates the importance of using a developmental framework to understand how childhood
maltreatment facilitates increased risk for the development of depression in late life.
Do race, neglect, and childhood poverty predict physical health in adulthood? A multilevel
prospective analysis
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: Available online 2 November 2013
Source:Child Abuse & Neglect
Author(s): Valentina Nikulina , Cathy Spatz Widom
Childhood neglect and poverty often co-occur and both have been linked to poor physical health outcomes.
In addition, Blacks have higher rates of childhood poverty and tend to have worse health than Whites. This
paper examines the unique and interacting effects of childhood neglect, race, and family and neighborhood
poverty on adult physical health outcomes. This prospective cohort design study uses a sample ( N = 675)
of court-substantiated cases of childhood neglect and matched controls followed into adulthood ( M age =
41). Health indicators (C-Reactive Protein [CRP], hypertension, and pulmonary functioning) were assessed
through blood collection and measurements by a registered nurse. Data were analyzed using hierarchical
linear models to control for clustering of participants in childhood neighborhoods. Main effects showed that
growing up Black predicted CRP and hypertension elevations, despite controlling for neglect and childhood
family and neighborhood poverty and their interactions. Multivariate results showed that race and childhood
adversities interacted to predict adult health outcomes. Childhood family poverty predicted increased risk for
hypertension for Blacks, not Whites. In contrast, among Whites, childhood neglect predicted elevated CRP.
Childhood neighborhood poverty interacted with childhood family poverty to predict pulmonary functioning in
adulthood. Gender differences in health indicators were also observed. The effects of childhood neglect,
childhood poverty, and growing up Black in the United States are manifest in physical health outcomes
assessed 30 years later. Implications are discussed.
Does war contribute to family violence against children? Findings from a two-generational
multi-informant study in Northern Uganda
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: Available online 14 November 2013
Source:Child Abuse & Neglect
Author(s): Regina Saile , Verena Ertl , Frank Neuner , Claudia Catani
After 20 years of civil war in Northern Uganda, the continuity of violence within the family constitutes a
major challenge to children's healthy development in the post-conflict era. Previous exposure to trauma and
ongoing psychopathology in guardians potentially contribute to parental perpetration against children and
dysfunctional interactions in the child's family ecology that increase children's risk of maltreatment. In order
to investigate distal and proximal risk factors of child victimization, we first aimed to identify factors leading
to more self-reported perpetration in guardians. Second, we examined factors in the child's family
environment that promote child-reported experiences of maltreatment. Using a two-generational design we
interviewed 368 children, 365 female guardians, and 304 male guardians from seven war-affected rural
communities in Northern Uganda on the basis of standardized questionnaires. We found that the strongest
predictors of self-reported aggressive parenting behaviors toward the child were guardians’ own
experiences of childhood maltreatment, followed by female guardians’ victimization experiences in their
intimate relationship and male guardians’ posttrautmatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and alcoholrelated problems. Regarding children's self-report of victimization in the family, proximal factors including
violence between adults in the household and male guardians’ PTSD symptom severity level predicted
higher levels of maltreatment. Distal variables such as female guardians’ history of childhood victimization
and female guardians’ exposure to traumatic war events also increased children's report of maltreatment.
The current findings suggest that in the context of organized violence, an intergenerational cycle of violence
persists that is exacerbated by female guardians’ re-victimization experiences and male guardians’
psychopathological symptoms.
Doing ‘Serious Case Reviews’: The Views and Experiences of NHS Named and Designated
Safeguarding Children Professionals
07 Nov 2013 01:55 am
Serious case reviews (SCRs), undertaken when a child has died or been seriously harmed, are an
important feature of child protection in England. They are substantial exercises, but little research has
examined the everyday work processes associated with their production. This study, undertaken during
2011, explored the views and experiences of NHS Named and Designated Nurses and Doctors for
Safeguarding Children about their involvement in SCRs. Nineteen telephone interviews were undertaken
and the data thematically analysed. The study found that doing SCRs involved additional work and staff did
not always feel fully supported or prepared. Doing SCRs is a rigid and bureaucratic process which
sometimes detracted from the case itself. The study also found mixed views about the value of SCRs and
the extent to which they promote learning and child-centred practice. The findings contribute to overall
understanding of how this process is undertaken, and help open up to scrutiny the work required and the
challenges generated for those involved in SCRs. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Doing SCRs
is a rigid and bureaucratic process which sometimes detracted from the case itself’ Key Practitioner
Message: SCRs are substantial exercises; little previous research has examined their production.
Undertaking SCRs requires considerable time, effort and can be emotionally difficult; NHS staff involved in
their production face challenges in doing this work. Producing SCRs may distract from the value of the
outcomes and the extent to which they promote learning and child-centred practice.
Editorial Board
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: November 2013
Source:Child Abuse & Neglect, Volume 37, Issue 11
Editorial Board EOV
27 Nov 2013 04:13 pm
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, Volume 22, Issue 8, Page ebi, November-December 2013.
Effect of Thalidomide on Clinical Remission in Children and Adolescents With Refractory
Crohn Disease A Randomized Clinical Trial
27 Nov 2013 12:00 am
Importance
Pediatric-onset Crohn disease is more aggressive than adult-onset disease, has high rates of resistance to
existing drugs, and can lead to permanent impairments. Few trials have evaluated new drugs for refractory
Crohn disease in children.
Objective
To determine whether thalidomide is effective in inducing remission in refractory pediatric Crohn disease.
Design, Setting, and Patients
Multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial of 56 children with active Crohn
disease despite immunosuppressive treatment, conducted August 2008–September 2012 in 6 pediatric
tertiary care centers in Italy.
Interventions
Thalidomide, 1.5 to 2.5 mg/kg per day, or placebo once daily for 8 weeks. In an open-label extension,
nonresponders to placebo received thalidomide for an additional 8 weeks. All responders continued to
receive thalidomide for an additional minimum 52 weeks.
Main Outcomes and Measures
Primary outcomes were clinical remission at week 8, measured by Pediatric Crohn Disease Activity Index
(PCDAI) score and reduction in PCDAI by ≥25% or ≥75% at weeks 4 and 8. Primary outcomes during the
open-label follow-up were clinical remission and 75% response.
Results
Twenty-eight children were randomized to thalidomide and 26 to placebo. Clinical remission was achieved
by significantly more children treated with thalidomide (13/28 [46.4%] vs 3/26 [11.5%]; risk ratio [RR], 4.0
[95% CI, 1.2-12.5]; P = .01; number needed to treat [NNT], 2.86). Responses were not different at 4 weeks,
but greater improvement was observed at 8 weeks in the thalidomide group (75% response, 13/28 [46.4%]
vs 3/26 [11.5%]; RR, 4.0 [95% CI, 1.2-12.5]; NNT = 2.86; P = .01; and 25% response, 18/28 [64.2%] vs 8/26
[30.8%]; RR, 2.1 [95% CI, 1.1-3.9]; NNT = 2.99; P = .01). Of the nonresponders to placebo who began
receiving thalidomide, 11 of 21 (52.4%) subsequently reached remission at week 8 (RR, 4.5 [95% CI, 1.414.1]; NNT = 2.45; P = .01). Overall, 31 of 49 children treated with thalidomide (63.3%) achieved clinical
remission, and 32 of 49 (65.3%) achieved 75% response. Mean duration of clinical remission in the
thalidomide group was 181.1 weeks (95% CI, 144.53-217.76) vs 6.3 weeks (95% CI, 3.51-9.15) in the
placebo group (P < .001). Cumulative incidence of severe adverse events was 2.1 per 1000 patient-weeks,
with peripheral neuropathy the most frequent severe adverse event.
Conclusions and Relevance
In children and adolescents with refractory Crohn disease, thalidomide compared with placebo resulted in
improved clinical remission at 8 weeks of treatment and longer-term maintenance of remission in an openlabel follow-up. These findings require replication to definitively determine clinical utility of this treatment.
Trial Registration
clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00720538
Emotional abuse as a predictor of early maladaptive schemas in adolescents: Contributions
to the development of depressive and social anxiety symptoms
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: Available online 16 November 2013
Source:Child Abuse &amp; Neglect
Author(s): E. Calvete
The schema therapy model posits that maltreatment generates early maladaptive schemas (EMSs) that
lead to the development of emotional disorders throughout the life span. The model also stipulates that
temperament moderates the influence of maltreatment on EMSs. This study examines (a) whether
emotional abuse perpetrated by parents and peers, both alone and interactively with temperament, predicts
the worsening of EMSs; and (b) whether EMSs in turn predict an increase in depressive and social anxiety
symptoms in adolescents. A total of 1,052 adolescents ( M age = 13.43; SD = 1.29) were assessed at three
time points, each of which was separated by 6 months. The subjects completed measures of emotional
abuse by parents and peers, neuroticism, extraversion, EMSs, depressive symptoms, and social anxiety.
The findings indicate that emotional bullying victimization and neuroticism predict a worsening of all schema
domains over time. Contrary to expectations, there was no significant interaction between temperament
dimensions and emotional abuse. The results confirmed the mediational hypothesis that changes in EMSs
mediated the predictive association between bullying victimization and emotional symptoms. This study
provides partial support for the schema therapy model by demonstrating the role of emotional abuse and
temperament in the genesis of EMSs.
Estimating Age: College Males Versus Convicted Male Child Sex Offenders
27 Nov 2013 04:13 pm
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, Volume 22, Issue 8, Page 968-986, November-December 2013.
Expert Testimony Influences Juror Decisions in Criminal Trials Involving Recovered
Memories of Childhood Sexual Abuse
27 Nov 2013 04:13 pm
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, Volume 22, Issue 8, Page 949-967, November-December 2013.
Exploratory Evaluation of a School-Based Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Program
27 Nov 2013 04:13 pm
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, Volume 22, Issue 8, Page 931-948, November-December 2013.
Family support in the family-centered medical home: An opportunity for preventing toxic
stress and its impact in young children Child health care providers offer valuable support
and connections for families
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: Available online 18 November 2013
Source:Child Abuse &amp; Neglect
Author(s): Francis E. Rushton , Colleen Kraft
Fatal and non-fatal child maltreatment in the US: An analysis of child, caregiver, and service
utilization with the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data Set
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: Available online 21 November 2013
Source:Child Abuse &amp; Neglect
Author(s): Emily M. Douglas , Brandy L. Mohn
The purpose of this study was to compare children who are fatally and non-fatally maltreated in the United
States. In this first national-comparison study, we used the Child Abuse and Neglect Data Set of children
and families who encounter/receive support from child welfare services. We found that children who were
fatally maltreated were younger, were more likely to live with both their parents, and that their families
experienced more financial and housing instability compared to non-fatally maltreated children. Overall,
families in which children die use/receive fewer social services, as compared to families in which children
live. We discuss the results with regard to child welfare practice and research.
Four-year longitudinal impact evaluation of the Action for Children UK Neglect Project:
Outcomes for the children, families, Action for Children, and the UK
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: Available online 13 November 2013
Source:Child Abuse &amp; Neglect
Author(s): Tony Long , Michael Murphy , Debbie Fallon , Joan Livesley , Patric Devitt , Moira McLoughlin ,
Alison Cavanagh
Neglect has a devastating impact on children and is the most pervasive form of child maltreatment in the
United Kingdom. The study purpose was to establish outcomes for neglected children following structured
assessment and intervention to ascertain what worked and why it worked. This prospective cohort study
included 85 cases of neglected children under 8 years of age from 7 centers across the United Kingdom.
Data were collected between 2008 and 2012 through serial quantitative recording of the level of concern
about neglect. Serial review of qualitative casefile data was undertaken for detail of assessment,
interventions, and evidence of outcomes for the child. Data analysis was undertaken by paired t -test, Chi
Square, descriptive statics for categorical data, and, for narrative data, identification of recurring factors and
patterns, with correlation of presenting factors, interventions, and outcomes. Paired t -test demonstrated
significant decrease in overall Action for Children Assessment Tool scores between assessment ( M =
43.77, SD = 11.09) and closing the case ( M = 35.47, SD = 9.6, t (84) = 6.77, p &lt; 0.01). Improvement in
the level of concern about neglect was shown in 79% of cases, with only 21% showing no improvement. In
59% of cases, concern about neglect was removed completely. Use of the assessment tool fostered
engagement by parents. The relationship between lack of parental engagement and children being taken
into care was statistically significant, with a large effect size ( χ 2 10.66, df 1, p = 0.0001, OR = 17.24).
When parents refused or were unable to respond positively to the intervention, children benefited from an
expedited move into care.
From Invisibility to Protection — Children in Prison with their Parent in Finland
06 Nov 2013 01:21 pm
This article explores the process through which children in prison with their imprisoned parent have become
a target of social concern in Finland. It is asked how the new social problem of ‘children in prison’ has been
constructed. The data consist of relevant parts of the legislation and official documents. Three phases of
social problem construction are named: (i) Children in prison as a practical and private matter; (ii) intense
debate, problem formulation and developing practices and (iii) a public institutionalised practice. The
position of children changed from one of invisibility to the target of protection. On the basis of children's
rights, children in prison became understood as a group of children who are in need of child protection
services. This example demonstrates how the images of problems construct solutions for practices.
Girls in residential care: From child maltreatment to trauma-related symptoms in emerging
adulthood
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: Available online 18 November 2013
Source:Child Abuse &amp; Neglect
Author(s): Eveline van Vugt , Nadine Lanctôt , Geneviève Paquette , Delphine Collin-Vézina , Annie
Lemieux
The current study examined the association between child maltreatment and trauma-related symptoms in
emerging adulthood – over and above the incidence of such symptoms and conduct problems during
adolescence – among a sample of female adolescents in residential care. This study used data from a
longitudinal study. The sample was composed of 89 adolescent females who were first interviewed at time
of admission in a residential center ( M age = 15.33 years, SD = 1.31) and later in young adulthood ( M age
= 19.27, SD = 1.55). At time 1, trauma-related symptoms were assessed with the Trauma Symptom
Checklist for Children and conduct problems with a composite measure. At time 2, child maltreatment was
assessed retrospectively with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, and trauma-related symptoms were
reassessed with the Trauma Symptom Inventory-2. Results indicated that child maltreatment, especially
emotional abuse and neglect, was related to anxious arousal, depression, and anger in emerging
adulthood. This study showed that females from our sample often reported different types of maltreatment
during childhood and that these traumatic experiences were significantly associated with poor adult
psychological functioning.
Impacts of adverse childhood experiences on health, mental health, and substance use in
early adulthood: A cohort study of an urban, minority sample in the U.S.
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: November 2013
Source:Child Abuse &amp; Neglect, Volume 37, Issue 11
Author(s): J.P. Mersky , J. Topitzes , A.J. Reynolds
Research has shown that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) increase the risk of poor health-related
outcomes in later life. Less is known about the consequences of ACEs in early adulthood or among diverse
samples. Therefore, we investigated the impacts of differential exposure to ACEs on an urban, minority
sample of young adults. Health, mental health, and substance use outcomes were examined alone and in
aggregate. Potential moderating effects of sex were also explored. Data were derived from the Chicago
Longitudinal Study, a panel investigation of individuals who were born in 1979 or 1980. Main-effect
analyses were conducted with multivariate logistic and OLS regression. Sex differences were explored with
stratified analysis, followed by tests of interaction effects with the full sample. Results confirmed that there
was a robust association between ACEs and poor outcomes in early adulthood. Greater levels of adversity
were associated with poorer self-rated health and life satisfaction, as well as more frequent depressive
symptoms, anxiety, tobacco use, alcohol use, and marijuana use. Cumulative adversity also was associated
with cumulative effects across domains. For instance, compared to individuals without an ACE, individuals
exposed to multiple ACEs were more likely to have three or more poor outcomes ( OR range = 2.75–10.15)
and four or more poor outcomes ( OR range = 3.93–15.18). No significant differences between males and
females were detected. Given that the consequences of ACEs in early adulthood may lead to later morbidity
and mortality, increased investment in programs and policies that prevent ACEs and ameliorate their
impacts is warranted.
Intergenerational effects of war trauma among Palestinian families mediated via
psychological maltreatment
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: November 2013
Source:Child Abuse &amp; Neglect, Volume 37, Issue 11
Author(s): Esa Palosaari , Raija-Leena Punamäki , Samir Qouta , Marwan Diab
We tested the hypothesis that intergenerational effects of parents’ war trauma on offspring's attachment and
mental health are mediated by psychological maltreatment. Two hundred and forty children and their
parents were sampled from a war-prone area, Gaza, Palestine. The parents reported the number and type
of traumatic experiences of war they had had during their lifetime before the child's birth and during a
current war when the child was 10–12 years old. The children reported their war traumas, experiences of
psychological maltreatment, attachment security, and symptoms of posttraumatic stress (PTSS),
depression, and aggression. The direct and indirect intergenerational effects of war trauma were tested in
structural equation models. The hypotheses were confirmed for father's past war exposure, and
disconfirmed for mother's war exposure. The father's past war trauma had a negative association with
attachment security and positive association with the child's mental health problems mediated by increased
psychological maltreatment. In contrast, the mother's past war trauma had a negative association with the
child's depression via decreased psychological maltreatment. The mother's current war trauma had a
negative association with the child's depression and aggression via decreased psychological maltreatment.
Among fathers, past war exposure should be considered as a risk factor for psychological maltreatment of
children and the associated attachment insecurity and mental health problems. Among mothers, war
exposure as such could be given less clinical attention than PTSS in the prevention of psychological
maltreatment of children.
Internet-Initiated Sexual Assault Among U.S. Adolescents Reported in Newspapers, 1996–
2007
27 Nov 2013 04:13 pm
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, Volume 22, Issue 8, Page 987-999, November-December 2013.
Is childhood cruelty to animals a marker for physical maltreatment in a prospective cohort
study of children?
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: Available online 20 November 2013
Source:Child Abuse &amp; Neglect
Author(s): Fiona S. McEwen , Terrie E. Moffitt , Louise Arseneault
Childhood cruelty to animals is thought to indicate that a child may have been maltreated. This study
examined: (a) prevalence of cruelty to animals among 5- to 12-year-old children; (b) the association
between cruelty to animals, child physical maltreatment, and adult domestic violence; and (c) whether
cruelty to animals is a marker of maltreatment taking into account age, persistence of cruelty, and
socioeconomic disadvantage. Data were from the Environmental Risk (E-Risk) Longitudinal Twin Study, an
epidemiological representative cohort of 2,232 children living in the United Kingdom. Mothers reported on
cruelty to animals when children were 5, 7, 10, and 12 years, on child maltreatment up to age 12, and adult
domestic violence. Nine percent of children were cruel to animals during the study and 2.6% persistently
(≥2 time-points). Children cruel to animals were more likely to have been maltreated than other children (
OR = 3.32) although the majority (56.4%) had not been maltreated. Animal cruelty was not associated with
domestic violence when maltreatment was controlled for. In disadvantaged families, 6 in 10 children cruel to
animals had been maltreated. In other families, the likelihood of maltreatment increased with age (from 3 in
10 5-year-olds to 4.5 in 10 12-year-olds) and persistence (4.5 in 10 of those persistently cruel). Although
childhood cruelty to animals is associated with maltreatment, not every child showing cruelty had been
maltreated. The usefulness of cruelty to animals as a marker for maltreatment increases with the child's
age, persistence of behavior, and poorer social background.
Measuring a year of child pornography trafficking by U.S. computers on a peer-to-peer
network
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: Available online 17 November 2013
Source:Child Abuse &amp; Neglect
Author(s): Janis Wolak , Marc Liberatore , Brian Neil Levine
We used data gathered via investigative “RoundUp” software to measure a year of online child pornography
(CP) trafficking activity by U.S. computers on the Gnutella peer-to-peer network. The data include millions
of observations of Internet Protocol addresses sharing known CP files, identified as such in previous law
enforcement investigations. We found that 244,920 U.S. computers shared 120,418 unique known CP files
on Gnutella during the study year. More than 80% of these computers shared fewer than 10 such files
during the study year or shared files for fewer than 10 days. However, less than 1% of computers ( n = 915)
made high annual contributions to the number of known CP files available on the network (100 or more
files). If law enforcement arrested the operators of these high-contribution computers and took their files
offline, the number of distinct known CP files available in the P2P network could be reduced by as much as
30%. Our findings indicate widespread low level CP trafficking by U.S. computers in one peer-to-peer
network, while a small percentage of computers made high contributions to the problem. However, our
measures were not comprehensive and should be considered lower bounds estimates. Nonetheless, our
findings show that data can be systematically gathered and analyzed to develop an empirical grasp of the
scope and characteristics of CP trafficking on peer-to-peer networks. Such measurements can be used to
combat the problem. Further, investigative software tools can be used strategically to help law enforcement
prioritize investigations.
Multilevel correlates of behavioral resilience among children in child welfare
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: November 2013
Source:Child Abuse &amp; Neglect, Volume 37, Issue 11
Author(s): Tessa Bell , Elisa Romano , Robert J. Flynn
Resilience, defined as positive adaptation and functioning following exposure to significant adversity, is an
important topic of investigation in child welfare. The current study used data from the Ontario Looking After
Children (OnLAC) project to estimate the prevalence of behavioral resilience (i.e., lower frequency of
conduct and emotional problems, higher frequency of prosocial behavior) in 531 5–9 year olds living in outof-home care, and to determine how behaviorally-resilient children are functioning in other domains (i.e.,
peer relationships and academic performance). Furthermore, hierarchical linear modeling was used to
examine the contribution of four levels of analysis (i.e., child, family, child welfare worker, and child welfare
agency) on behaviors and to identify the contribution of predictor variables within each of these levels.
Findings indicated that 50–70% of children exhibited resilience on one behavioral outcome while
approximately 30% showed resilience on at least two of the outcomes. Also, 8.4–9.6% exhibited resilience
on one of the behavioral outcomes in addition to peer relationships and academic performance. The child
level accounted for the highest proportion of total explained variance in behavioral outcomes, followed by
the family-, child welfare worker-, and child welfare agency-levels. A number of child and foster family
variables predicted behavioral functioning. Findings indicate that it is important to inquire about children's
functioning across multiple domains to obtain a comprehensive developmental assessment. Also, child and
foster family characteristics appear to play considerable roles in the promotion of behavioral resilience.
Multiple Service Use: The impact of consistency in service quality for vulnerable youth
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: Available online 26 November 2013
Source:Child Abuse &amp; Neglect
Author(s): Jackie Sanders , Robyn Munford , Linda Liebenberg , Michael Ungar
Little is known about the way in which variations in service quality influence outcomes when youth are
clients of more than one service system. This article reports on a study of 1,210 adolescents (aged 13–17
years), half were concurrent clients of two or more services and half were not involved in two or more
services. Youth completed a self-report questionnaire administered by a trained interviewer. It was
hypothesized that youth reporting two positive service experiences would report lower risks, higher
resilience, and better outcomes than youth reporting inconsistent or two negative service experiences and
that their resilience, risks, and outcomes would be similar to those of youth not involved in two or more
services. MANCOVA was used to determine the relationship among service quality and resilience, risk, and
outcomes with four covariates that assessed family and neighborhood environments, history of abuse and
neglect, and chronic need. Results indicate that service quality had an effect on resilience, risks, and
outcomes. These relationships were mediated quite strongly by the influence of the risks youth faced in
their neighborhoods and to a lesser extent by the other three covariates. Of the three dependent variables,
risk appeared to be the most consistently influenced by all the covariates, and it also differentiated service
experience groups. Results point to the importance of services developing strategies to effectively address
risks confronted by youth and also to ensure that when more than one service is involved with youth,
consistency in service delivery is achieved.
Mutuality, severity, and chronicity of violence by Father-Only, Mother-Only, and mutually
violent parents as reported by university students in 15 nations
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: Available online 16 November 2013
Source:Child Abuse &amp; Neglect
Author(s): Murray A. Straus , Yahayra Michel-Smith
This article aims to provide a more complete description of the violence between parents experienced by
children than is usual in research and to suggest the practicality and importance of doing so. It presents
results on the percent of parents in each of three Dyadic Types : Father-Only (the father assaulted the
mother and the mother did not assault), Mother-Only (mother assaulted and the father did not assault), and
Both-Assault; and on differences between these three types in the chronicity and severity of assaults.
Questionnaires were completed by convenience samples of university students in 15 nations ( N = 11,408).
Violence between parents was measured by the short form of the Conflict Tactics Scales. Fourteen percent
of the students reported one or more instances of physical violence between their parents, including 6%
who reported a severe assault. Cross classification of assaults by the father and the mother to identify
Dyadic Types found 25% Father-Only, 22% Mother-Only, and 52% Both-Assaulted. The percentage in each
Dyadic Type based on reports by male or female students were similar. They were also consistent with
percentages found by previous studies identifying the Dyadic Types of violent couples. In respect to
chronicity, when violence between parents occurred, in 82% of the cases, it occurred more than once.
Research on children experiencing violence between parents, and prevention and treatment of interparental violence, are likely to be enhanced if it takes into account that Both-Violent is the most frequent
pattern to which children are exposed and that Mother-Only is about as frequent as Father-Only.
Consideration of the severity, and chronicity, of the inter-parental violence needs to replace simply
classifying parents as violent. Achieving this is possible using instruments which take only three to five
minutes and which can be completed by only one of the parents or by the child.
No Place is Safe: Sexual Abuse of Children in Rural Bangladesh
27 Nov 2013 04:13 pm
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, Volume 22, Issue 8, Page 901-914, November-December 2013.
PTSD and marital satisfaction in military service members: Examining the simultaneous
roles of childhood sexual abuse and combat exposure
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: November 2013
Source:Child Abuse &amp; Neglect, Volume 37, Issue 11
Author(s): Adam B. Miller , Karen E. Schaefer , Keith D. Renshaw , Rebecca K. Blais
Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is relatively common and is associated with a multitude of negative
outcomes in adulthood, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and lower marital satisfaction.
However, CSA has been understudied in military samples. The purpose of the present study was to
examine the relative contributions of CSA and combat exposure to PTSD and marital satisfaction. Two
hundred eighteen National Guard/Reserve veterans who deployed overseas between 2001 and 2008
completed self-report measures of CSA, marital satisfaction, combat exposure, and PTSD symptom
severity. Data were analyzed using linear regression and path analysis to evaluate a comprehensive model
including all variables. CSA accounted for unique variance in PTSD symptom severity independent of
combat exposure. CSA also had a negative direct association with marital satisfaction, independent of
combat exposure and PTSD symptom severity. In contrast, combat exposure had only a negative indirect
association with marital satisfaction via PTSD when all variables were examined simultaneously. CSA
accounted for unique variance in both PTSD symptom severity and marital satisfaction in this sample of
combat veterans. Clinically, results suggest that assessment and treatment of CSA is indicated for military
veterans suffering from PTSD. Further, treatment of CSA may improve marital satisfaction, which may
positively affect psychological functioning in the veteran.
Parental verbal affection and verbal aggression in childhood differentially influence
psychiatric symptoms and wellbeing in young adulthood
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: Available online 21 November 2013
Source:Child Abuse &amp; Neglect
Author(s): Ann Polcari , Keren Rabi , Elizabeth Bolger , Martin H. Teicher
Previous research has shown that exposure to parental verbal aggression is common and associated with
increased levels of depression, anxiety, dissociation, and drug use. A key question that has not been
addressed is whether verbal affection from the same or opposite parent can attenuate the effects of verbal
aggression. This cross-sectional study examined the effects of parental verbal aggression and affection
during childhood on measures of psychopathology and wellbeing in a community sample of 2,518
individuals (18–25 years). Data were analyzed for moderating influences using mixed effect models and for
direct and indirect effects using structural equation models. The moderation analysis suggested that high
levels of exposure to verbal affection did not mitigate the effects of verbal aggression from the same parent,
and high levels of verbal affection from another parent did not generally result in a significant attenuation of
the effects of verbal aggression. Structural equation models showed that verbal aggression was
predominantly associated with effects on psychiatric symptoms scores, whereas verbal affection was
primarily associated with effects on measures of wellbeing. These findings highlight the relatively
independent effects of verbal aggression and verbal affection and suggest that the latter may be particularly
important in establishing a foundation for emotional and physical wellbeing. These findings also suggest
that ridicule, disdain, and humiliation cannot be easily counteracted by praise and warmth from the same or
another parent.
Parents who hit and scream: Interactive effects of verbal and severe physical aggression on
clinic-referred adolescents’ adjustment
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: Available online 17 November 2013
Source:Child Abuse &amp; Neglect
Author(s): Michelle LeRoy , Annette Mahoney , Paul Boxer , Rebecca Lakin Gullan , Qijuan Fang
The goals of this study were first, to delineate the co-occurrence of parental severe physical aggression and
verbal aggression toward clinic-referred adolescents, and second, to examine the interactive effects of
parental severe physical aggression and verbal aggression on adolescent externalizing and internalizing
behavior problems. This research involved 239 referrals of 11- to 18-year-old youth and their dual-parent
families to a non-profit, private community mental health center in a semi-rural Midwest community. Multiple
informants (i.e., adolescents and mothers) were used to assess parental aggression and adolescent
behavior problems. More than half of clinic-referred adolescents (51%) experienced severe physical
aggression and/or high verbal aggression from one or both parents. A pattern of interactive effects of
mother-to-adolescent severe physical aggression and verbal aggression on adolescent behavior problems
emerged, indicating that when severe physical aggression was present, mother-to-adolescent verbal
aggression was positively associated with greater adolescent behavior problems whereas when severe
physical aggression was not present, the links between verbal aggression and behavior problems was no
longer significant. No interactive effects were found for father-to-adolescent severe physical aggression and
verbal aggression on adolescent adjustment; however, higher father-to-adolescent verbal aggression was
consistently linked to behavior problems above and beyond the influence of severe physical aggression.
The results of this study should promote the practice of routinely assessing clinic-referred adolescents and
their parents about their experiences of verbal aggression in addition to severe physical aggression and
other forms of abuse.
Perceptions of childhood caretakers and borderline personality symptomatology
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: November 2013
Source:Child Abuse &amp; Neglect, Volume 37, Issue 11
Author(s): Randy A. Sansone , Shahzad Farukhi , Michael W. Wiederman
Previous studies indicate that individuals with borderline personality disorder come from families marked by
high levels of psychopathology as well as dysfunctional parenting styles—themes that tend to engender
negative attitudes toward parents. However, we are not aware of any studies that have examined
perceptions of parenting quality and borderline personality symptoms in a clinical but non-psychiatric
population—the purpose of the present study. Using a cross-sectional self-report survey methodology in a
sample of internal medicine outpatients, we examined participants’ perceptions of the quality of parental
caretaking using a one-item assessment, and examined borderline personality symptomatology using two
measures. Ratings of the quality of parental care were statistically significantly inversely correlated with
scores on both measures of borderline personality symptomatology. After controlling for the number of
caretakers during childhood, the observed statistical relationships remained statistically significant. In this
primary care sample, participants with borderline personality symptomatology perceived parents more
negatively than those without such symptomatology.
Perceptions of parental substance use disorders in cross-system collaboration among child
welfare, alcohol and other drugs, and dependency court organizations
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: Available online 21 November 2013
Source:Child Abuse &amp; Neglect
Author(s): Amy S. He , Dorian E. Traube , Nancy K. Young
Cross-system collaboration among child welfare (CW), alcohol and other drugs (AOD), and court
organizations shows promise in addressing the many needs of CW-involved families experiencing parental
substance use disorders (SUDs). Research has suggested that differing perceptions of parents with SUDs
among staff in these organizations may hinder the collaborative process. Using a sequential explanatory
mixed-method approach, this study explored staff perceptions of parental SUDs among CW, AOD, and
court organizations. Logistic regression analyses indicated that, compared to CW respondents, AOD
respondents were: (a) less likely to believe that parents could provide effective parenting; (b) more likely to
believe that abstinence should be a criterion for reunification; (c) more likely to agree that parents should
receive jail time as a consequence for noncompliance with court orders; and (d) more likely to believe that
parents could succeed in treatment. Thematic analyses of these focal areas identified two core themes
(focus on the primary client and mandated time frames for permanency), as well as multiple subthemes,
that provided a nuanced understanding of differing perceptions on these matters. Suggestions for the
development of anticipatory cross-system training and practices and implications for policy evaluation are
discussed.
Perpetration patterns and environmental contexts of IPV in Sweden: Relationships with
adult mental health
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: Available online 26 November 2013
Source:Child Abuse &amp; Neglect
Author(s): Laura E. Miller , Åsa Källström Cater , Kathryn H. Howell , Sandra A. Graham-Bermann
Although excellent data exist on the overall prevalence of childhood exposure to intimate partner violence
(IPV), there is less information available on the specific patterns of IPV exposure in childhood and how they
influence adult mental health. The current study examines 703 Swedish adults who reported exposure to
IPV in childhood. Participants were part of a large national study on violence exposure. They provided an
extensive history of their exposure to IPV and maltreatment experiences during childhood via electronically
administered questionnaires. Mean comparison and multivariate regression methods were employed to
assess differences in violence severity by reported perpetration pattern (mother-only, father-only,
bidirectional or other), the association between violence severity and environmental context, and the
contribution of these characteristics to adult mental health outcomes. Overall, violence perpetrated in public
and by fathers was more severe and was related to poorer mental health outcomes in adulthood for child
witnesses. These findings provide important insight into possible clinical “flags” for identifying children at
high risk for exposure to IPV and abuse in the home.
Physical and sexual abuse in orphaned compared to non-orphaned children in sub-Saharan
Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: Available online 5 November 2013
Source:Child Abuse &amp; Neglect
Author(s): J. Nichols , L. Embleton , A. Mwangi , G. Morantz , R. Vreeman , S. Ayaya , D. Ayuku , P.
Braitstein
This systematic review assessed the quantitative literature to determine whether orphans are more likely to
experience physical and/or sexual abuse compared to non-orphans in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It also
evaluated the quality of evidence and identified research gaps. Our search identified 10 studies, all
published after 2005, from Zimbabwe, South Africa, Kenya and Uganda. The studies consisted of a total
17,336 participants (51% female and 58% non-orphans). Of those classified as orphans ( n = 7,315), 73%
were single orphans, and 27% were double orphans. The majority of single orphans were paternal orphans
(74%). Quality assessment revealed significant variability in the quality of the studies, although most scored
higher for general design than dimensions specific to the domain of orphans and abuse. Combined
estimates of data suggested that, compared to non-orphans, orphans are not more likely to experience
physical abuse (combined OR = 0.96, 95% CI [0.79, 1.16]) or sexual abuse (combined OR = 1.25, 95% CI
[0.88, 1.78]). These data suggest that orphans are not systematically at higher risk of experiencing physical
or sexual abuse compared to non-orphans in sub-Saharan Africa. However, because of inconsistent quality
of data and reporting, these findings should be interpreted with caution. Several recommendations are
made for improving data quality and reporting consistency on this important issue.
Protecting Children in the Context of International Migration Children in migration require
greater protection from violence, exploitation, and discrimination
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: Available online 20 November 2013
Source:Child Abuse &amp; Neglect
Author(s): Jill D. McLeigh
Research findings can change attitudes about corporal punishment
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: Available online 16 November 2013
Source:Child Abuse &amp; Neglect
Author(s): George W. Holden , Alan S. Brown , Austin S. Baldwin , Kathryn Croft Caderao
Positive attitudes toward the use of corporal punishment (CP) predict subsequent spanking behavior. Given
that CP has frequently been associated with behavior problems in children and child maltreatment, this
prevention work was designed to test whether adults’ attitudes could be changed by informing participants
about the research findings on problematic behaviors associated with CP. Two random assignment studies
are reported. In Study 1, we tested whether an active reading condition would result in more attitude change
than a passive condition. With a sample of 118 non-parent adults, we found that after reading very brief
research summaries on the problems associated with CP, there was a significant decrease in favorable
attitudes toward CP. Contrary to expectations, the magnitude of the change was comparable for active and
passive processing conditions. In Study 2, we extended our approach to a sample of 520 parents and
included a control group. A significant decrease in positive attitudes toward spanking was observed in the
intervention group, but no change for the control group. Parents who were unaware of the research showed
more change after reading the summaries. Thus, these studies demonstrate that a brief and cost-effective
approach to raise awareness of research findings can reduce positive attitudes toward CP. Implications for
prevention and intervention are discussed.
Resilience to bullying victimization: The role of individual, family and peer characteristics
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: November 2013
Source:Child Abuse &amp; Neglect, Volume 37, Issue 11
Author(s): Maria Sapouna , Dieter Wolke
Little research attention has been paid to bullied students who function better than expected and are
therefore defined as “resilient”. The present longitudinal study aimed to identify individual, family and peer
factors that predict fewer than expected levels of depression and delinquency following experiences of
bullying victimization. The sample consisted 3,136 adolescents. Self-report data were used to measure
bullying victimization at age 13 and 14 and depression and delinquency at age 14. We examined the effects
of gender, self-esteem, social alienation, parental conflict, sibling victimization and number of close friends
on levels of emotional and behavioral resilience following bullying victimization. The resilience measures
were derived by regressing depression and delinquency scores at age 14 on levels of bullying victimization
at age 13 and 14, respectively. The adolescents who reported low depression despite frequently
experiencing bullying tended to be male, had higher self-esteem, were feeling less socially alienated, were
experiencing low levels of conflict with parents and were not victimized by siblings. On the other hand, the
adolescents who reported low delinquency despite frequently experiencing bullying tended to be female,
had higher self-esteem, were experiencing low levels of conflict with parents, were not victimized by siblings
and had less close friends. Relationships with parents and siblings continue to play some role in promoting
emotional and behavioral adjustment among victims of bullying and, therefore, interventions are more likely
to be successful if they target both the psychosocial skills of adolescents and their relationships with their
family.
Resilience to childhood maltreatment is associated with increased resting-state functional
connectivity of the salience network with the lingual gyrus
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: November 2013
Source:Child Abuse &amp; Neglect, Volume 37, Issue 11
Author(s): Steven J.A. van der Werff , J. Nienke Pannekoek , Ilya M. Veer , Marie-José van Tol , André
Aleman , Dick J. Veltman , Frans G. Zitman , Serge A.R.B. Rombouts , Bernet M. Elzinga , Nic J.A. van der
Wee
The experience of childhood maltreatment is related to an increased risk of developing a variety of
psychiatric disorders, as well as a change in the structure of the brain. However, not much is known about
the neurobiological basis of resilience to childhood maltreatment. This study aims to identify resting-state
functional connectivity (RSFC) patterns specific for resilience to childhood maltreatment, focusing on the
default mode and salience network and networks seeded from the amygdala and left dorsomedial prefrontal
cortex. Resting-state functional MRI scans were obtained in 33 individuals. Seeds in the bilateral amygdala,
the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), the posterior cingulate cortex and the left dorsomedial
prefrontal cortex were defined and used to examine whether resilient individuals differed from vulnerable
individuals and healthy controls in RSFC with other brain regions. Within the salience network, the resilient
group was associated with increased RSFC between the left dACC and a region containing the bilateral
lingual gyrus and the occipital fusiform gyrus compared to both the vulnerable group and the healthy
controls. In this study, we found RSFC patterns specific for resilient individuals. Regions that are implicated
are related on a functional level to declarative memory and the processing of emotional stimuli.
Role of emotion dysregulation in the relationship between childhood abuse and probable
PTSD in a sample of substance abusers
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: November 2013
Source:Child Abuse &amp; Neglect, Volume 37, Issue 11
Author(s): Nicole H. Weiss , Matthew T. Tull , Jason Lavender , Kim L. Gratz
This study examined associations among childhood abuse, emotion dysregulation, and probable
posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) within a sample of 93 substance use disorder (SUD) patients in
residential treatment. SUD patients with probable PTSD (vs. non-PTSD) reported (a) greater severity of
childhood sexual, physical, and emotional abuse and (b) significantly higher levels of overall emotion
dysregulation and the specific dimensions of difficulties engaging in goal-directed behavior when upset,
difficulties controlling impulsive behaviors when distressed, limited access to effective emotion regulation
strategies, and lack of emotional clarity. Additionally, significant positive associations were found between
both childhood physical and emotional (but not sexual) abuse on the one hand and dimensions of emotion
dysregulation on the other. Further analyses indicated that difficulties controlling impulsive behaviors when
distressed accounted for the associations of both childhood physical and emotional abuse with probable
PTSD status. Findings of the present study highlight a potential mechanism underlying the relationships
between both childhood emotional and physical abuse and PTSD in SUD patients.
Social networks and informal social support in protecting children from abuse and neglect
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: Available online 20 November 2013
Source:Child Abuse &amp; Neglect
Author(s): James C. Spilsbury , Jill E. Korbin
Telling Tales: Child Migration and Child Trafficking Stories of trafficking obscure the realities
for migrant children
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: Available online 20 November 2013
Source:Child Abuse &amp; Neglect
Author(s): Julia O’Connell Davidson
The Pursuit of New Directions Directions will offer challenging ideas for both North and
South
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: Available online 20 November 2013
Source:Child Abuse &amp; Neglect
Author(s): Jill D. McLeigh , Gary B. Melton
The Sexual Exploitation of Children: Can You Recognise the Signs? The Association of
Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA), 2012.
Training film. Available free: http://www.cse.siyonatech.com;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k14eDgD597o
21 Nov 2013 11:34 am
The effects of exposure to violence and victimization across life domains on adolescent
substance use
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: November 2013
Source:Child Abuse &amp; Neglect, Volume 37, Issue 11
Author(s): Emily M. Wright , Abigail A. Fagan , Gillian M. Pinchevsky
This study uses longitudinal data from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods
(PHDCN) to examine the effects of exposure to school violence, community violence, child abuse, and
parental intimate partner violence (IPV) on youths’ subsequent alcohol and marijuana use. We also
examine the cumulative effects of being exposed to violence across these domains. Longitudinal data were
obtained from 1,655 adolescents and their primary caregivers participating in the PHDCN. The effects of
adolescents’ exposure to various forms of violence across different life domains were examined relative to
adolescents’ frequency of alcohol and marijuana use three years later. Multivariate statistical models were
employed to control for a range of child, parent, and family risk factors. Exposure to violence in a one-year
period increased the frequency of substance use three years later, though the specific relationships
between victimization and use varied for alcohol and marijuana use. Community violence and child abuse,
but not school violence or exposure to IPV, were predictive of future marijuana use. None of the
independent measures of exposure to violence significantly predicted future alcohol use. Finally, the
accumulation of exposure to violence across life domains was detrimental to both future alcohol and
marijuana use. The findings support prior research indicating that exposure to multiple forms of violence,
across multiple domains of life, negatively impacts adolescent outcomes, including substance use. The
findings also suggest that the context in which exposure to violence occurs should be considered in future
research, since the more domains in which youth are exposed to violence, the fewer “safe havens” they
have available. Finally, a better understanding of the types of violence youth encounter and the contexts in
which these experiences occur can help inform intervention efforts aimed at reducing victimization and its
negative consequences.
The influence of unsupervised time on elementary school children at high risk for inattention
and problem behaviors
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: Available online 26 October 2013
Source:Child Abuse &amp; Neglect
Author(s): Kyoung-Sae Na , Soyoung Irene Lee , Hyun Ju Hong , Myoung-Ja Oh , Geon Ho Bahn ,
Kyunghee Ha , Yun Mi Shin , Jungeun Song , Eun Jin Park , Heejung Yoo , Hyunsoo Kim , Yun-Mi Kyung
In the last few decades, changing socioeconomic and family structures have increasingly left children alone
without adult supervision. Carefully prepared and limited periods of unsupervised time are not harmful for
children. However, long unsupervised periods have harmful effects, particularly for those children at high
risk for inattention and problem behaviors. In this study, we examined the influence of unsupervised time on
behavior problems by studying a sample of elementary school children at high risk for inattention and
problem behaviors. The study analyzed data from the Children's Mental Health Promotion Project, which
was conducted in collaboration with education, government, and mental health professionals. The child
behavior checklist (CBCL) was administered to assess problem behaviors among first- and fourth-grade
children. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the influence of unsupervised time
on children's behavior. A total of 3,270 elementary school children (1,340 first-graders and 1,930 fourthgraders) were available for this study; 1,876 of the 3,270 children (57.4%) reportedly spent a significant
amount of time unsupervised during the day. Unsupervised time that exceeded more than 2 h per day
increased the risk of delinquency, aggressive behaviors, and somatic complaints, as well as externalizing
and internalizing problems. Carefully planned afterschool programming and care should be provided to
children at high risk for inattention and problem behaviors. Also, a more comprehensive approach is needed
to identify the possible mechanisms by which unsupervised time aggravates behavior problems in children
predisposed for these behaviors.
The prevalence of unplanned pregnancy and associated factors in Britain: findings from the
third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal-3)
30 Nov 2013 12:02 pm
Publication date: 30 November–6 December 2013
Source:The Lancet, Volume 382, Issue 9907
Author(s): Kaye Wellings , Kyle G Jones , Catherine H Mercer , Clare Tanton , Soazig Clifton , Jessica
Datta , Andrew J Copas , Bob Erens , Lorna J Gibson , Wendy Macdowall , Pam Sonnenberg , Andrew
Phelps , Anne M Johnson
Background Unplanned pregnancy is a key public health indicator. We describe the prevalence of
unplanned pregnancy, and associated factors, in a general population sample in Britain (England, Scotland,
and Wales). Method We did a probability sample survey, the third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and
Lifestyles (Natsal-3), of 15 162 men and women aged 16–74 years in Britain, including 5686 women of
child-bearing age (16–44 years) who were included in the pregnancy analysis, between Sept 6, 2010, and
Aug 31, 2012. We describe the planning status of pregnancies with known outcomes in the past year, and
report the annual population prevalence of unplanned pregnancy, using a validated, multicriteria, multioutcome measure (the London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy). We set the findings in the context of
secular trends in reproductive health-related events, and patterns across the life course. Findings 9·7% of
women aged 16–44 years had pregnancies with known outcome in the year before interview, of which
16·2% (95% CI 13·1–19·9) scored as unplanned, 29·0% (25·2–33·2) as ambivalent, and 54·8% (50·3–
59·2) as planned, giving an annual prevalence estimate for unplanned pregnancy of 1·5% (1·2–1·9).
Pregnancies in women aged 16–19 years were most commonly unplanned (45·2% [30·8–60·5]). However,
most unplanned pregnancies were in women aged 20–34 years (62·4% [50·2–73·2]). Factors strongly
associated with unplanned pregnancy were first sexual intercourse before 16 years of age (age-adjusted
odds ratio 2·85 [95% CI 1·77–4·57], current smoking (2·47 [1·46–4·18]), recent use of drugs other than
cannabis (3·41 [1·64–7·11]), and lower educational attainment. Unplanned pregnancy was also associated
with lack of sexual competence at first sexual intercourse (1·90 [1·14–3·08]), reporting higher frequency of
sex (2·11 [1·25–3·57] for five or more times in the past 4 weeks), receiving sex education mainly from a
non-school-based source (1·84 [1·12–3·00]), and current depression (1·96 [1·10–3·47]). Interpretation The
increasing intervals between first sexual intercourse, cohabitation, and childbearing means that, on
average, women in Britain spend about 30 years of their life needing to avert an unplanned pregnancy. Our
data offer scope for primary prevention aimed at reducing the rate of unplanned conceptions, and
secondary prevention aimed at modification of health behaviours and health disorders in unplanned
pregnancy that might be harmful for mother and child. Funding Grants from the UK Medical Research
Council and the Wellcome Trust, with support from the Economic and Social Research Council and the
Department of Health.
When love hurts Assessing the intersectionality of ethnicity, socio-economic status, parental
connectedness, child abuse, and gender attitudes in juvenile violent delinquency
01 Dec 2013 07:00 am
Publication date: November 2013
Source:Child Abuse &amp; Neglect, Volume 37, Issue 11
Author(s): Esmah Lahlah , Kim M.E. Lens , Stefan Bogaerts , Leontien M. van der Knaap
Researchers have not yet reached agreement about the validity of several competing explanations that
seek to explain ethnic differences in juvenile violent offending. Ethnicity cannot solely explain why boys with
an ethnic minority background commit more (violent) crimes. By assessing the intersectionality of structural,
cultural and individual considerations, both the independent effects as well as the interplay between
different factors can be examined. This study shows that aforementioned factors cumulatively play a role in
severe violent offending, with parental connectedness and child abuse having the strongest associations.
However, since most variables interact and ethnicity is associated with those specific factors, a conclusion
to be drawn is that ethnicity may be relevant as an additional variable predicting severe violent offending
although indirectly.
Why Have We Made Neglect So Complicated? Taking a Fresh Look at Noticing and
Helping the Neglected Child
21 Nov 2013 11:25 am
The experience of chronic neglect is extremely harmful to children's physical, emotional, cognitive and
behavioural development. As an area of research it has been traditionally described as neglected, and as
an arena of practice it is viewed as complex and intractable. Over the last few decades, however, there has
been a body of evidence building up to help with the understanding of the impact of neglect upon children
and to guide intervention. This paper draws on experience as a researcher in the field to present some
thoughts on our current understanding of neglect, and how we can move forward with more appropriate
responses. It argues that existing evidence is not being used to best effect and that current protective
systems, like those in the UK, are still struggling to provide an effective response to neglected children. The
language of neglect has become over-complicated and the systems and processes for assessment,
planning and intervention are mired in bureaucracy. Some of these complexities are explored in more detail
and a model is proposed that would support a more direct and straightforward response to children whose
needs are not being met. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘current protective systems’ ‘are still
struggling to provide an effective response to neglected children’ Key Practitioner Messages Agencies and
practitioners need to avoid being driven into developing complex responses by the complexity of neglect as
a phenomenon. Separate ‘child protection’ and ‘family support/child in need’ pathways are not helpful for
neglected children. In relation to a neglected child, practitioners can consider what the child needs and what
they need people to think about and do on their behalf.
Young People Transitioning From Out-of-Home Care: A Critical Analysis of Leaving Care
Policy, Legislation and Housing Support in the Australian State of Victoria
20 Nov 2013 06:40 am
Young people transitioning from out-of-home care are a particularly vulnerable and disadvantaged group. In
recent years, there have been significant improvements in Victorian policy and legislation providing support
to care leavers. However, these supports remain discretionary rather than mandatory, and many care
leavers experience difficult transitions in key areas such as housing, health, education and employment.
This study reports on a research project based on a partnership between Monash University and seven
non-government child and youth welfare agencies. A key aim was to identify practices and policies that
could reduce the over-representation of young people transitioning from out-of-home care in the youth
justice system. The interviews and focus groups conducted with 77 stakeholders revealed major limitations
in the application of leaving care policy and legislation, and associated deficits in the availability of
appropriate housing. Some key implications for policy and practice reform are identified. Copyright © 2013
John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘many care leavers experience difficult transitions in key areas such as housing,
health, education and employment’ Key Practitioner Messages Many care leavers have difficult transitions
from out of home care due to the absence of a safety net. Post-care supports should be mandatory, not
discretionary. Care leavers should be assisted according to their developmental needs, rather than a
random chronological age
‘Drugs and Relationships Don't Work’: Children's and Young People's Views of Substance
Use and Intimate Relationships
21 Nov 2013 11:30 am
Responding effectively to children and young people's (CYP's) needs in relation to the overlapping issues of
parental substance use (alcohol and other drugs) and domestic abuse requires an understanding of their
perspectives and experiences. This study set out to explore the views of CYP on the impact of substance
use on violent and abusive behaviours within intimate relationships in order to inform practice and policy
development. Fourteen young people attended focus groups at three different specialist substance use
support services for families in England. The results showed clear ambivalence about alcohol use in
particular and its impact on violent and abusive behaviours. They did not blame substances for subsequent
violent or abusive behaviour overall, however, the quantities and type of substances used were considered
key to such behaviour. Most importantly, the CYP reported that getting help with substance problems does
not automatically improve relationships, indeed, there are situations when pressure to change substance
use can make relationships worse. The implications for social care practice are discussed. Copyright ©
2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Clear ambivalence about alcohol use in particular and its impact on violent
and abusive behaviours’ Key Practitioner Messages CYP need clear and factual messages about the
relationship between substance use and violent and abusive behaviours, particularly messages about the
quantity and types of substance. This requires practitioners to be confident in their knowledge and have
accurate and age-appropriate information to give to CYP. Practitioners need to ask CYP about their
experiences of the impact of substance use on the family and the relationships within it. It is possible that
relationships were abusive and/or the parenting was not ‘good enough’ before the substance use and will
not improve in its absence. The CYP highlighted how relationships face different pressures at different
times in the process of changing substance use behaviour. CYP need to be supported and consulted
throughout. ‘Relationships face different pressures at different times in the process of changing substance
use behaviour’
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