The Impact of Individuals’ Characteristics and Experiences on Their Definitions of Child Maltreatment

• Published in: Child abuse & neglect 1998-05, Vol.22 (5), p.437-452
• Main Author: Portwood, Sharon G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Attitudes; Caregivers; Child; Child Abuse; Child abuse & neglect; Child Abuse - psychology; Child Abuse, Sexual - psychology; Child Neglect; Child Rearing - psychology; Childrearing Practices; Clinical Diagnosis; Definitions; Female; Health Personnel; Health Professions; Humans; Individual Characteristics; Individual Differences; Legal Responsibility; Male; Maltreatment; Mental Health Workers; Parent Attitudes; Parents; Parents - psychology; Policy; Psychology; Sexual Abuse; Teacher Attitudes
• ISSN: 0145-2134; 1873-7757
• DOI: 10.1016/S0145-2134(98)00008-8

Objective: This study was designed to explore the extent to which individuals’ own characteristics and experiences, particularly those involving child-rearing and child maltreatment, influence their definitions of abuse and neglect. Method: An anonymous written questionnaire asking respondents to rate the importance of individual factors to an abuse determination, as well as to rate the likelihood of specific acts incorporated into vignettes to constitute abuse, was administered to participants ( n = 323) representing six groups with diverse relationships and experience with children: mental health professionals, legal professionals, medical professionals, preschool and elementary school teachers, parents, and adult nonparents. Results: Parenting experience had only a minimal effect on assessments of abuse, while having encountered a case or suspected case of maltreatment at work predisposed individuals to view more ambiguous acts as less likely to constitute abuse. Nonetheless, this latter group was less receptive to factors offered in mitigation of perpetrator liability. Surprisingly, no effect was detected for individuals themselves identifying as a victim or perpetrator of abuse or neglect. Conclusions: Although personal experiences with child-rearing and child maltreatment had only a marginal effect on individuals’ assessments of abuse and neglect, the role played by professional experiences with such cases should be investigated further as it does appear to impact these determinations. Along with the delineation of key factors discussed in this study, such work can assist in the development of a much needed standard to guide practitioners, particularly in regard to more ambiguous acts which tended to produce more guarded reactions from professionals. Objectif: Cette étude a été rédigée pour explorer dans quelle mesure les propres expériences et les caractéristiques des individus, particulièrement celles en matière d’éducation et de maltraitance des enfants, influencent leur définition de la maltraitance et de la négligence. Méthode: Trois cent vingt trois participants ont été invité à remplir un questionnaire écrit, anonyme à coter aussi bien l’importance de facteurs individuels dans la propension à maltraiter, que la probabilité d’actes spécifiques, incorporés dans des vignettes qui pouvaient constituer un abus. Ils représentaient six groupes ayant des expériences et des relations différentes avec des enfants: des professionnels de la santé mentale,