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Wadji DL, Oe M, Cheng P, Bartoli E, Martin-Soelch C, Pfaltz MC, Langevin R. Associations between experiences of childhood maltreatment and perceived acceptability of child maltreatment: A cross-cultural and exploratory study. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2023; 143:106270. [PMID: 37301113 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acceptable parental behaviors and practices toward a child vary across countries and may impact the risk of exposure to maltreatment. Conversely, prior experiences of maltreatment as a child may influence the acceptability of child maltreatment (CM) behaviors. OBJECTIVE This exploratory study examined the association between CM experiences and perceived acceptability of CM using data from four countries representing different cultures, living standards, and gross national income. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING We recruited a convenience sample of 478 adults from Cameroon (n = 111), Canada (n = 137), Japan (n = 108), and Germany (n = 122) through online postings on social media. METHODS We administered questionnaires and conducted a three-stage hierarchical multiple regression with perceived acceptability of CM subscales as the dependent variable. RESULTS In all countries, higher scores of childhood neglect were associated with greater perceived acceptability of neglect in one's community (p < .001). Equally, our results showed that higher scores of childhood neglect or sexual abuse were associated with greater perceived acceptability of sexual abuse (p < .044). However, we did not find a significant relationship between other forms of CM (i.e., physical abuse, emotional maltreatment, exposure to domestic violence), and their perceived acceptability. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that experiences of some CM types, namely neglect and sexual abuse, may be associated with the perception that these are more acceptable within one's community. Perceived acceptability of CM might be a driver that can either prevent or perpetuate CM. Therefore, intervention and prevention programs could incorporate a deeper cross-cultural understanding and assessment of these social norms in order to foster meaningful behavioral changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dany Laure Wadji
- Department of Psychology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland; Sainte-Justine University Hospital Center, Montreal, Canada
| | - Misari Oe
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, Kurume University, Kurume, Japan
| | - Polly Cheng
- Department of Psychology and Sport Sciences of the Goethe University of Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Eleonora Bartoli
- Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, McGill University, Canada
| | | | - Monique C Pfaltz
- Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Psychology and Social Work, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, Sweden
| | - Rachel Langevin
- Department of Psychology and Sport Sciences of the Goethe University of Frankfurt, Germany.
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Kobulsky JM, Villodas M, Yoon D, Wildfeuer R, Steinberg L, Dubowitz H. Adolescent Neglect and Health Risk. CHILD MALTREATMENT 2022; 27:174-184. [PMID: 34665048 DOI: 10.1177/10775595211049795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This study examined relationships between adolescent neglect and abuse and later health risk in a sample of 1050 youth (53% female, 56% Black, and 24% White) from the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect. At age 16, the youth reported any adolescent exposure to neglect and physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. At age 18, they reported risk behaviors (delinquency, substance use, and sexual behavior) and emotional and behavioral problems (externalizing and internalizing problems, suicidality). Control variables were childhood maltreatment (self-reports and early childhood child protective services reports), risk behaviors and emotional and behavioral problems at age 16, and demographics. Analysis confirmed a 5-factor model of adolescent neglect (Exposure to Risk, Inadequate Monitoring, Inattention to Basic Needs, Permitting Misbehavior, and Inadequate Support). Inadequate Support and Exposure to Risk were associated with more substances used; Exposure to Risk was also associated with delinquency and suicidality. Adolescent emotional abuse was associated with not using a condom use and internalizing and externalizing problems. Findings underscore the importance of preventing or addressing neglect during adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia M Kobulsky
- School of Social Work, College of Public Health, 16043Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Miguel Villodas
- Department of Psychology, College of Sciences, 115104San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Dalhee Yoon
- Department of Social Work, 14787Binghamton University-State University of New York, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Rachel Wildfeuer
- Department of Sociology, 6558Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Howard Dubowitz
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MA, USA
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Kobulsky JM, Yoon D, Villodas MT, Schuler BR, Wildfeuer R, Reyes JN. Neglect, Abuse, and Adaptive Functioning: Food Security and Housing Stability as Protective Factors for Adolescents. CHILDREN 2022; 9:children9030390. [PMID: 35327762 PMCID: PMC8946869 DOI: 10.3390/children9030390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This study addresses gaps in knowledge of protective factors that support adaptive functioning among maltreated adolescents. The sample included 1003 high-risk youths participating in the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (53% female, 56% Black, and 82% living in poverty). Adolescent neglect (Exposure to Risky Situations, Lack of Monitoring, Inattention to Basic Needs, Permitting Misbehavior, Lack of Support) and physical, sexual, and emotional abuse were self-reported at age 16. Age 18 adaptive functioning measures included healthcare receipt (medical, dental, and mental health), self-rated global health, high school graduation or enrollment, prosocial activities, peer relationships (Companionship, Conflict, Satisfaction, and Intimacy), and independent living skills. Previous childhood maltreatment, demographics, and earlier prosocial activities and peer relationships were controls. Structural equation modeling showed that adolescent neglect and abuse were associated with lower adaptive functioning. Multigroup models showed protective effects for food security on the relationships between sexual abuse and self-rated health and between Inadequate Monitoring and Companionship. Housing stability buffered relationships between Inadequate Support and high school graduation or enrollment and between Permitting Misbehavior and independent living skills. Findings imply the need for adolescent-focused prevention, including the promotion of food security and housing stability to support adaptive functioning in maltreated adolescents. However, notable mixed findings show the need for additional research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia M. Kobulsky
- School of Social Work, College of Public Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-215-204-2843
| | - Dalhee Yoon
- Department of Social Work, Binghamton University-State University of New York, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA;
| | - Miguel T. Villodas
- Department of Psychology, College of Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92121, USA;
| | - Brittany R. Schuler
- School of Social Work, College of Public Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA;
| | - Rachel Wildfeuer
- Department of Sociology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA;
| | - José N. Reyes
- Department of Health Services Administration and Policy, College of Public Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA;
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Matsuyama Y, Isumi A, Doi S, Fujiwara T. Being left alone at home and dental caries of children aged 6-7 years. J Epidemiol 2021. [PMID: 34719584 PMCID: PMC10165214 DOI: 10.2188/jea.je20210321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leaving children alone at home is considered child neglect in some countries but is not prohibited in Japan. We investigated the association between being left alone at home and dental caries of children aged 6-7 years in Japan. METHOD The data on first graders in all 69 public elementary schools in Adachi, Tokyo, obtained from repeated cross-sectional surveys in 2015, 2017, and 2019 were analyzed. Caregivers answered the questionnaire, and the data were linked to the information on children's dental caries evaluated in school dental health checkups (N = 12,029). Poisson regression analysis with propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to account for confounders. RESULTS Leaving children alone at home for ≥1 hour during the weekdays was reported by 46.4% of the caregivers, which did not vary across years. The PSM analysis showed that, compared with children never being left alone at home, children being left alone at home for ≥1 time per week had more dental caries (mean ratio (MR) 1.11; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.02-1.21; P-value 0.016), while <1 time per week was not associated (MR 0.97; 95% CI, 0.92-1.03; P-value 0.345). The difference between those being left alone at home for <1 time per week and those being left alone for ≥1 time per week was not significant after applying Bonferroni correction (MR 1.12; 95% CI, 1.00-1.26; P-value 0.041). CONCLUSION Leaving children alone at home for ≥1 hour every week might be a risk factor for dental caries of children aged 6-7 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Matsuyama
- Department of Global Health Promotion, Tokyo Medical and Dental University
| | - Aya Isumi
- Department of Global Health Promotion, Tokyo Medical and Dental University.,Japan Society for Promotion of Science
| | - Satomi Doi
- Department of Global Health Promotion, Tokyo Medical and Dental University.,Japan Society for Promotion of Science
| | - Takeo Fujiwara
- Department of Global Health Promotion, Tokyo Medical and Dental University
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Jennissen CA, King RP, Wetjen KM, Denning GM, Wymore CC, Stange NR, Hoogerwerf PJ, Liao J, Wood KE. Rural youth's exposure to firearm violence and their attitudes regarding firearm safety measures. Inj Epidemiol 2021; 8:29. [PMID: 34517921 PMCID: PMC8436451 DOI: 10.1186/s40621-021-00317-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the wake of an epidemic in firearm-related deaths and injuries, youth have become leading voices of concern. This study's objective was to investigate rural youth's personal experiences with firearm-related violence, and their attitudes towards firearms and gun violence prevention strategies. METHODS Attendees of the 2019 Iowa FFA Leadership Conference were surveyed about personal experiences with firearm-associated deaths and injuries, and their attitudes regarding firearm-related issues. Descriptive (frequencies), bivariate (chi square, Fisher's exact test) and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed utilizing Stata 15.1 (StataCorp, College Station, Texas). RESULTS Responses from 1382 FFA members 13-18 years of age were analyzed. About 5% had personally seen someone threatened with a firearm. Over one-third (36%) stated they knew someone who had been killed or injured by gunfire. Of these, over two-thirds knew of someone who had died or was injured unintentionally and 30% knew of someone killed or injured intentionally (e.g. suicide). Nearly all agreed or strongly agreed that the right to use firearms for hunting and shooting sports should be legal (94%), that a firearm safety course should be required to get a hunting license (89%), and that there should be a required background check before purchasing a firearm (89%). Over three-fifths (61%) agreed or strongly agreed that there should be laws requiring safe storage of firearms in homes. Although still high, lesser support for firearm safety policies was seen among males, older youth, participants living on farms or in the country, and youth who hunted, had firearms in their homes, and/or were in homes with unsafe firearm storage. CONCLUSIONS The majority of youth in this study supported firearm safety measures including required training, background checks, and safe firearm storage in homes. These findings are consistent with the national youth-led call for firearm safety. Additionally, over one-third of respondents personally knew someone who was killed or injured by a firearm and 5% had seen someone or been personally threatened with firearm violence. Our study did not investigate the effects of firearm violence on participants' mental health and wellbeing, but future studies addressing this question seem highly justified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles A. Jennissen
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Ryan P. King
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Kristel M. Wetjen
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa, USA
| | - Gerene M. Denning
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Cole C. Wymore
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Nicholas R. Stange
- Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO USA
| | - Pamela J. Hoogerwerf
- Injury Prevention and Community Outreach, University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Junlin Liao
- Department of Surgery, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa, USA
| | - Kelly E. Wood
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
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Schiltz HK, Magnus BE. Differential Item Functioning Based on Autism Features, IQ, and Age on the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED) Among Youth on the Autism Spectrum. Autism Res 2021; 14:1220-1236. [PMID: 33543824 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Anxiety commonly occurs among youth on the autism spectrum, yet measurement of anxiety in this population is complicated by a number of factors, including potentially overlapping symptomatology, the child's intellectual functioning, and changes in anxiety across development. Moreover, few studies have examined the psychometric properties of anxiety measures in this population, and no study to date has tested whether there are systematic differences in the measurement of anxiety, or differential item functioning (DIF), across the high degree of heterogeneity and the developmental course of autism. To test this possibility, data were combined across multiple studies using the National Database for Autism Research, an NIH-funded data repository. Parent-report on the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED) and Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) were used as measures of anxiety and autism features, respectively. A confirmatory factor analysis indicated good fit of the literature standard five-factor structure. Moderated nonlinear factor analysis (MNLFA) revealed multiple items with intercept and loading DIF based on level of autism features, IQ, and age, especially for items related to social behavior. Therefore, although the measure's factor structure is consistent with that found in the general population, the SCARED may not capture differences in anxiety equivalently for all children on the spectrum and across their development. Clinicians and researchers need to be especially vigilant in measuring anxiety symptoms in children with autism by removing items flagged for DIF from the SCARED and/or by using multiple measures and informants. LAY ABSTRACT: Autistic youth often experience clinical levels of anxiety. Many tools used to measure anxiety were developed for the general population, but not for use with autistic youth. This study found that the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED) measures the same five dimensions of anxiety as in the general population. Parents, however, may respond differently to questions on the SCARED based on their child's autism features, intellectual functioning, and age, which impacts our ability to accurately measure anxiety among autistic youth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hillary K Schiltz
- Department of Psychology, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Brooke E Magnus
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA
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Jennissen CA, Evans EM, Karsjens AA, Denning GM. Social workers' determination of when children's access or potential access to loaded firearms constitutes child neglect. Inj Epidemiol 2019; 6:29. [PMID: 31333995 PMCID: PMC6616466 DOI: 10.1186/s40621-019-0202-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Pediatric firearm-related deaths and injuries are a serious societal problem. Our study’s objective was to determine social workers’ assessment of child neglect with respect to access or potential access to a loaded firearm. Methods Study invitations were delivered by e-mail to National Association of Social Workers members designating their practice as “Child/Family Welfare” (N = 4933) in October/November, 2015. Demographics, attitudes regarding child access prevention (CAP) laws, and the ages (4–14 years) at which social workers deemed several scenarios as child neglect were determined. Descriptive (frequencies) and bivariate (chi square) analyses were performed. Results 485 of 4933 social workers completed the survey (9.8%). Of these, most agreed or strongly agreed (≥92%) there should be laws in place requiring firearms to be stored so unwanted access cannot be obtained by a child, even up to 15 years of age. In a scenario where a child had potential access to a loaded firearm, but never gained access, the presence of a CAP law pertinent to the child in the scenario increased the likelihood respondents would find the situation child neglect for all ages (p < 0.0001 for each age comparison). Moreover, 10.3% felt they could not deem the situation child neglect without the presence of a CAP law, no matter the age of the child. In a scenario where a child gained access to a loaded firearm, the vast majority found this to be child neglect (82–99%, with the percentage varying by the age of the child involved), regardless of the presence or absence of a CAP law and/or an injury being sustained. In addition, when a CAP law was in place, social workers were more likely to find neglect if the child had sustained a firearm-related injury as well (p values ranged from 0.016–0.0081 for age comparisons). Conclusions The vast majority of child/family welfare social workers surveyed found it to be child neglect when youth accessed or had potential access to a loaded, unsecured firearm. Results of the study provide support for the passage of universal CAP laws to help protect children equally across states and ensure the safe storage of firearms in homes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles A Jennissen
- 1Department of Emergency Medicine, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA
| | - Erin M Evans
- 1Department of Emergency Medicine, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA
| | - Alycia A Karsjens
- 2Department of Social Service, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA
| | - Gerene M Denning
- 1Department of Emergency Medicine, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA
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