Showing papers on "Neglect published in 1978"

CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT: The Myth of Classlessness

Abstract: Increasingly, professional and public media are promulgating the belief that the problems of child abuse and neglect are broadly distributed throughout society, suggesting that their frequency and severity are unrelated to socioeconomic class. This paper argues that this belief is not supported by the evidence, and that its perpetuation serves to divert attention from the nature of the problems.

Hypoarousal in Patients With the Neglect Syndrome and Emotional Indifference

Abstract: Physiologic theories of emotion suggest that activation is important in the experience of emotion; patients exhibiting "neglect" as a consequence of right parietotemporal of dysfunction show flattened affect. We studied arousal in patients with lesions of the right hemisphere who also exhibited emotional indifference, in aphasic patients with lesions of the left hemisphere, and in non-brain-damaged controls, by stimulating the forearm ipsilateral to the side of the brain lesion while recording galvanic skin responses (GSRs) from the fingers on the same side. The group exhibiting neglect had lower GSRs than aphasic patients or non-brain-damaged controls. Aphasic patients had higher GSRs than non-brain-damaged controls. These results suggest that neglect is associated with disturbances in bilateral arousal and that this disorder of arousal may be responsible in part for flattened affect. The heightened GSR in aphasic patients may reflect disinhibition, which might be partly responsible for increased emotionality in these patients.

Antecedents of child abuse and neglect in premature infants: a prospective study in a newborn intensive care unit

Abstract: Families of premature and ill newborns admitted to a regional newborn intensive care unit were studied prospectively to assess the incidence of reported child abuse and neglect. Of the 255 infants discharged to their parents, ten were subseqtiently reported as victims of maltreatment during the first year of life. The high incidence of maltreatment (3.9%) in these Prelnatttre and ill newborns supports the findings of retrospective studies that there is an increased risk of maltreatment in these special infants. Thirteen family psychosocial characteristics, assessed by admission interview, showed significant association with later maltreatment. These family characteristics included social isolation, a family history of child abuse and neglect, serious marital problems, inadequate child care arrangements, apathetic and dependent personality styles, and inadequate child spacing. Maltreated infants were less mature at birth and had more congenital defects than their nursery mates. There was also less family-infant contact during the prolonged nursery hospitalization in families in which maltreatment eventually occurred.

Self-destructive behavior in battered children.

Abstract: Fifty-nine physically abused children demonstrated a significantly higher incidence of self-destructive behavior than two control groups of nonabused children, one neglected and one normal. The self-destructive behavior, including suicide attempts and self-mutilation, was potentiated by interrelated variables operating in the abused child and his environment. Often enhanced by the ego deficits and impaired impulse control of the abused children, this behavior seemed to represent a learned pattern originating in early traumatic experiences with hostile primary objects. VioLit summary: OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study by Green was to test the hypothesis that a child's experience of repeated physical abuse potentiates his or her development of self-destructive behavior. METHODOLOGY: An quasi-experimental design was employed. The study included an experimental group of 60 abused children and control groups of 30 "neglected" and 30 "normal" children who were not maltreated. The children ranged in age between 5 years and 12 years. The number of boys and girls were proportional and the groups were comparable with respect to the mean age of the children. The children were predominantly black and Hispanic and all were from low-income families. This sample was judged by the author to be representative of the ghetto areas from which it was drawn. The abused children were referred by the Bureau of Child Welfare and the Family Court of New York City. Abuse meant specifically that it was continuing or recurrent and confirmed; the majority of abused children lived at home. The sample of neglected was obtained from the Family Court. The criterion for neglect consisted of the court finding that the parent(s) failed to provide adequate physical care including food, clothing, medical care, and supervision. A neglected control group was included to control for the background of physical deprivation and neglect that often accompanies physical abuse in this ghetto population. The normal control group children were randomly referred volunteers from the pediatric out-patient clinic at Kings County Hospital. Detailed interviews, 1 to 1 1/2 hours, were conducted with the mother or maternal guardian by a psychiatrist or psychiatric social worker to determine the presence of self-destructive behavior among the children. Questions indicating child self-destructive behavior concerned possible forms of self-mutilation and self-destructive activity such as self-biting, self-cutting, self-burning, hair pulling, and suicide attempts, threats, or gestures. The presence or absence of self-destructive behavior and/or suicidal ideation was determined for each child and then summed into each group. Chi-square was used to analyze the differences between the 3 groups. Final analysis was done on 59 abused and 29 neglected children because of missing data. FINDINGS/DISCUSSION: A significantly higher incidence of self-destructive behavior was reported in the abused children. Of 59 abused children, 24 (40.6%) exhibited self-destructive behavior, and only 5 of the 29 neglected children (17.2%) and 2 of 30 normal controls (6.7%) were self destructive (p EVALUATION: This study reports yet more of the damaging effects of parental abuse on children. The sample size was large for a study of this sort. The selection of the sample was biased in that only those children who had been actually referred to official authorities were included, and Blacks and Hispanics were oversampled. Collection of data from interviews with mothers could have been supplemented with other data. The findings would have been more convincing if controls for such variables as SES, gender, and other potential antecedents had been included. This research points to another area in the phenomenon of child abuse that needs study. (CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado) KW - New York KW - Child Development KW - Child Victim KW - Child Abuse Effects KW - Child Abuse-Behavior Link KW - Child Abuse Victim KW - Child Physical Abuse Effects KW - Child Physical Abuse Victim KW - Child Behavior KW - Self Destructive Behavior KW - Self Mutilation KW - Psychological Victimization Effects KW - Domestic Violence Effects KW - Domestic Violence Victim Language: en

Primary Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect: Identification of High Risk Adolescents Prior to Parenthood

Abstract: Abstract Based on the result of the study, the following conclusions are made: 1. 1. The parenting inventory developed has adequate levels of content validity, construct validity, internal reliability, and stability over time. 2. 2. Approximately 13% (150) of the adolescents responding to the inventory had factor scores -1 or more standard deviations below the group mean. It is concluded that the further the score deviates below the mean, the greater the risk the adolescent becomes for practicing abusive parenting behaviors. 3. 3. Abused adolescents have significantly lower mean scores than non-identified abused adolescents, suggesting that abused adolescents espress attitudes towards parenting and child-rearing which are similar to the parenting and child-rearing practices of abusive parents. 4. 4. Female adolescents, whether members of the abused or non-identified abused group, have higher mean scores than abused or non-identified abused male adolescents. The results suggest that male adolescents of both groups express more abusive parenting attitudes than females of both groups. 5. 5. Each of the four group parenting constructs can effectively be used to discriminate between abused and non-identified abused adolescents. Construct B: Inability of the parent to be empathically aware of child's needs , however, had the greatest discriminatory capability. The results of the study have indicated the utility of the inventory in assessing the parenting attitudes of adolescents and in discriminating between adolescents identified as abused and those non-identified as abused. In its present stage of development, the inventory may only be validly used to identify adolescents' attitudes towards child-rearing and parenting. Before the inventory is employed to identify potential child abusers for treatment purposes, it is recommended that longitudinal research be concluded. Such research should be designed to provide data relative to the predictive validity of the inventory.

Changes in the symptoms of neglect induced by changing task strategy.

Abstract: • Six patients with left side unilateral neglect from lesions of the right cerebral hemisphere were tested with verbal and visuospatial crossing-out tasks. The symptoms of neglect were less severe with the visuospatial than with verbal tasks. We hypothesize that changes in the symptoms of neglect were produced because the tasks altered hemispheric arousal.

Parental personality factors in child abuse.

Abstract: In an attempt to demonstrate that abusing parents differ from nonabusing parents in personality variables, the Michigan Screening Profile of Parenting was administered to six groups of mothers: (a) adjudicated abusers, (b) spouses of adjudicated abusers, (c) mothers convicted of child neglect, (d) nonabusing mothers from a college student population, (e) nonabusing mothers from a middle socioeconomic level, and (f) nonabusing mothers from a lower socioeconomic level Major differences occurred when comparison was made of one or more of the first three groups with one of the latter three groups The groups differed significantly on six factor-analyzed cluster categories: (a) relationship to one's own parents, (b) tendency to becoming upset and angry, (c) tendency toward isolation and loneliness, (d) expectations of one's own children, (e) inability to separate parental and child feelings, and (f) fear of external threat and control In all of the cases, the first three groups scored at levels of higher risk than did the latter three groups, whereas the abusers scored at the highest risk levels throughout It is suggested that a therapist who helps a parent develop the ability to maintain equanimity under stress, by helping reduce deviations from the norm in characteristi cs related to abuse potential, is ultimately helping to reduce actual abusive behavior With the growing emphasis in the literature on the fact that the causes of child abuse are multiple and interactive, many therapists who deal with parental personality and attitudinal variables are made to feel as if they are engaging in a futile effort (D'Agostino, 1975; Smith, 197S) Although many new and exciting identification and treatment programs for child abuse abound throughout the country (National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, 1975, 1976), very little encouragement has been given to the therapist who does not have easy access to the new interdisciplinary treatment programs and who, in many instances, remains the

Impact of chronic illness on child and family: an overview based on five surveys with implications for management.

Abstract: For the past eight years the Rochester Child Health Group has systematically investigated chronic illness in childhood with the goal of minimizing the psychosocial sequelae of chronic illness through more optimal management. This overview examines the impact of chronic illness on 404 children and their families in five separate studies: 1) 209 children in a follow-up of all children with chronic symptoms in a previous random sampling of children; 2) 42 children with juvenile arthritis; 3) 44 nephrotic children; 4) 54 asthmatic children; 5) 55 chronically ill children living in rural areas of Western New York. Information was obtained through parental interviews, school reports, and psychological testing of the child. The percentage of parents reporting impact of the child's illness on family differed according to study population. The percentage reporting areas of impact according to severity of the illness is as follows: worry, 75--97; financial, 46--60; fatigue of parent, 31--65; change in sleep arrangements, 17--31; change in furnishings, 15--40; less social life for parents, 12--35; restrictions on travel, 13--40; parental friction, 9--20; sibling neglect, 10--20; sibling resentment, 10--25; embarrassment, 12--20; interference from relatives, 5--17. Over half the parents felt their child's future education, job chances, and social life would be affected. One third reported activity limitations. Compared to a control group of children, a significantly greater percentage of parents of the chronically ill reported teacher concern about their child's effort and behavior, and showed concern about the child having too few friends. Two of the three studies in which psychological appraisals were obtained suggested that more of the ill children than controls showed indices of maladjustment. School information from two studies showed more of the ill children than controls underachieving and being referred to a school psychologist. Work by the Rochester Child Health Group has pointed up several ways in which providers of care can more optimally assist families in order to minimize these problems: 1) identifying families at risk at the onset to find which families may require special support; 2) Assuring that family and all care providers know who is orchestrating care, and that all areas of care are being provided; 3) Assuring that where necessary, an outreach person is meeting the needs of the family and child on an intensive, sustained, caring and creative basis.

Division, duplication and neglect: patterns of care for children with chronic disorders.

Abstract: Summary The care of forty-four children with chronic arthropathies (usually juvenile rheumatoid arthritis) was studied by parental interview. The goal was to determine parents' perceptions of how management responsibilities are shared between primary physicians and specialists. Responses to questions about each of nine specific areas of care, ranging from diagnosis and treatment of the chronic disorder to the care of minor, acute illnesses, enabled the investigators to determine which physician had assumed major responsibility for each area. The results suggest a pattern whereby basic care is either divided or duplicated, but with many of the supportive aspects of care neglected in a high proportion of families. A comparison of these results with those of a similar study of children with meningomyelocele provides support for the view that such patterns are typical of the care of most children with chronic disorders.

Treatment of the Agitated Patient With an Organic Brain Disorder

Abstract: Agitated patients with organic brain disorders represent relatively common diagnostic and management problems. Therapeutic failures usually result from a failure to understand the patient's disturbed behavior, the staff's emotional response to the patient's behavior, or neglect of the biological cause and ineffective use of medication. Effective management depends on continued monitoring of the patient's mental status and physical condition.

Penile Trauma as a Sign of Child Abuse

Abstract: Since Kempe et al1first coined the phrase "the battered child syndrome" in 1962, a number of clinical signs associated with child abuse have been described and reviewed.1-5However, in an article in thisJournal(129:1265, 1975), Kempe urged members of the medical community to identify additional signs of child abuse that might help improve diagnostic acumen. Although O'Neill et al5parenthetically noted that six of their 110 cases involved genital injury, a series of cases of child abuse involving penile trauma has never, to our knowledge, been fully described. Six such cases are reported here in the interest of facilitating the prompt and accurate diagnosis of child abuse and/or neglect, protecting such children from further injury, and identifying caretakers who are in urgent need of support and rehabilitation. Report of Cases.—Case 1.—A 14-month-old male infant was first admitted to The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia with

Child Abuse and Neglect: An Annotated Bibliography

Abstract: Lists and describes articles about child abuse and its prevention, causes, manifestations, and legal issues.

Child abuse and neglect — medical aspects

Abstract: The medical aspects of child abuse cover a wide range of disorders from inflicted injuries, through neglect, failure to thrive and severe psychological disorders. The doctor’s role includes diagnosis, treatment, prediction and prevention, side by side with colleagues in other disciplines, and may involve the doctor in Court proceedings for child protection or occasionally in criminal proceedings against the parents.1-

Medical-legal and societal problems involving children—child prostitution, child pornography and drug-related abuse; recommended legislation

Abstract: The average American citizen, when called upon to describe the problems of child abuse and neglect, typically speaks about the battering or starving of a child by a parent who hates the child or is mentally deranged. There certainly are many child abuse and neglect cases which fall under such descriptions, but there are many more cases in which the parent or adult perpetrator is motivated by sexual, commercial, or drug-related concerns. The use of the child as an adjunct or tool in fulfilling the parent’s aberrant personal desires or needs is a form of child abuse distinguishable from the traditional formulation, yet as devastating to the child.

Preparing Educators to Participate in the Community Response to Child Abuse and Neglect

Abstract: Training programs for educators in the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect have recently become a national priority. Many of these only develop an awareness of the problem. In order to really make training effective, programs must be designed that integrate the existing skills of educators and available school resources with larger community based efforts. CEC has designed a training program for educators that combines a knowledge of school systems with an identification of the needs of abused and neglected children, their families, and the community with available school resources.

Child abuse: a literature review.

Abstract: The following is a summary of a recently published review of Swedish and international literature concerning children exposed to abuse and neglect or manifesting failure to thrive. The review is the first report appearing from the so-called PRU group in Uppsala--Psycho-social Risk Children in Uppsala. The group is a multidisciplinary team engaged in a research project about Uppsala children exposed to mental, social and physical risks in their homes. The project is financed by the Save the Children Fund, which has also contributed to the printing costs of the book. Various professions are represented in the research team, namely social work, family therapy, child psychiatry, child psychology, paediatrics, and sociology. The complete review was published in the autumn of 1977 under the following title: Dagmar Lagerberg/PRU-gruppen: Foraldravald mot barn. En litteraturstudie (PRU group: Child abuse by parents. A literature review). A second main report, presenting the aims, material, methods, and results of the project, is planned for publication in 1979.