Special Cases of Child Abuse

SOC 5870 – Violence in the Family Dr. M. C. Sengstock, Ph.D., C.C.S.

http://users.wowway.com/~marycay910m.sengstock@wayne.edu

Exposure to Parental Violence• New Dimension of Child Abuse• Just Beginning to Be Discussed, Researched• Problems of Research:

– Biased Samples (Shelter Women & Children)– Mothers Too Upset to Provide Valid Data?– Children Responses Different from Mothers?– Fathers Underestimate Own Violence

• Amount & Type of Exposure Not Measured– See VIOLENCE? See RESULTS? Overhear?

Research Findings

• Family Functioning & Satisfaction Are Lower– What Is the Impact of This on Children?

• Mothers: – More Preoccupied Less Energy for Child– Displacement of Problems on Child – Inconsistency in Discipline (Depends on Father)

• Fathers:– More Irritable, Power-Focused– Distant from Children

Impact on Children: Short Term

• More Behavior Problems – Truancy, Aggression

• Externalizing – Aggression

• Internalizing – Depression, Headaches, Stomach Aches

• Physical Symptoms – Bed Wetting, Colds, Sore Throats

Impact on Children: Long Term• Girls:

– Increased Depression– Decreased Self-Esteem– Decreased Social Adjustment

• Boys:– Decreased Effective Conflict Resolution Strategies

• Both Girls & Boys: – Increased Trauma-Related Symptoms Anxiety; Sleep Disturbances

Compounding Effects of Marital Violence on Children

• Such Homes Have Many Problems:– 40% - 60% Have Increased Child Abuse– Tend to Have Ineffective Parenting – Have Other Family Stresses

• Hence Tension & Problems Accumulate!

Impact on Children of Observing Parental Violence or Its Effects

• Fright for Self – “Me Next?”• Fright for Mother – “Who’ll Care for Me?”

Death of Parent• Self Blame – “Must Be Something I Did!”• Often Encouraged: “Be Quiet or Dad Will Get

Mad & Hit ME!”• Children Feel All Powerful – & No Power• Age Impact: Small Child v. Pre-Teen v. Teen

“Caring for Mom”

• Children Assume Responsibilities Beyond Their Years– Children Try to Protect Mom– Help to Care for Younger Siblings– Help With Housework– Try to Keep Dad Happy

• Sources: – J. Humphreys’ dissertation– Student in Middle School Class

Additional Dilemmas

• If Violent Couple Divorces – Who Gets Custody of Children?

• Should Visitation Be Allowed?• Is Marital Violence Relevant to These Issues?

– Is Father Bad for the Children (vs. Mother)?– Is Mother Incapable (Too Depressed) of Managing

Children?

Incest/Sexual Abuse of Children

• Historical– Believed Very Rare But Common in Folklore

• Last 40 Years – Greater Attention• Most Common(ly Found): Father – Daughter • Probably Most Common: Brother – Sister • Sexual Abuse by Mother: Rarely Seen – Why?

– Doesn’t Happen? Or Boys Don’t Complain? – Or Mother Role in Child Care Hides It? – EX: 20 Year Old Patient – Mother Still Bathed

Mother Role in Sexual Abuse

Mother Seen As:– Enabling – Allowing – Encouraging – Not

Protecting Child – Frigid – Often Abused – Fears Husband – Happy to

Have Daughter Assume “Wife Role”

Incest vs. Sexual Abuse

2 Terms & Their Impact:• Incest: Implies Sexual Abuse Within Family• Sexual Abuse: Has Broader Implications• Does Family Relationship Matter?• Or Is It the Authority Issue That Matters?• Need More Emphasis on Non-Family Offenders?

– Priests? Teachers? Scout Leaders? Coaches?• Should We Consider Other Victims?

– Elderly? Marital Rape?

Identification & Its Problems• Same As Other Abuse Victims – Only Harder

– Arouses Sexual Anxieties in Professionals– Often Children Not Believed

• Symptoms:– STDs – Yeast Infections – Severe Constipation or

Diarrhea – Pregnancy – Genital Disorders – Sore Throats/STDs – Sex/Gender Identify Confusion – Bed-Wetting – Learning Problems – Unusual Sexual Curiosity – Seductive – Fearful of Offender (Father, Brother, Other Adult) – “Gets Away” With Misbehavior Toward Offender

Overt vs. Covert Sexual Abuse

• Sexual Abuse of Children/Youth Is ALWAYS an Abuse of Authority (Even If Non-Related)

• Overt Sexual Abuse: Involves Direct Action– Penetration; Fondling; Showing Videos

• Covert Sexual Abuse: Child As a Medium– Parents Communicate Thru Child Sex Meanings– Child Plays Spousal Role

• Both Overt & Covert Have Same Symptoms

Some Consequences of Sexual Abuse

• Blurred Family Roles – Children Act Like Adults• Father Jealous, Possessive of Victim• Favoritism of Preferred Child • Sibling Jealousy• Abused Child Is Depressed, Withdrawn• Poor Self-Image – Secretive – Seductive • Abuser Often Introvert, Uncomfortable With

Adults

Child Neglect

• Topic Given Little Attention To Date• Other Areas Considered More Serious• Serious Consequences Not Recognized• Taken More Seriously Today Than 25 Years Ago

Definition of Child Neglect

• Failure to Provide “Necessities”• Intervening Factors:• Impact of Poverty• Impact of Parental Knowledge• Impact of Parental Intentions

What Are Necessities?

• Nutrition• Shelter• Clothing • Health Care• “Abandonment” (Left Alone) • Educational Neglect (No School Conferences?)• Emotional Neglect

Has Frequency Changed?

• Physical Neglect:– 1981: 1.6/1,000 – 1986: 8.1/1,000 – 1993: 19.9/1,000

• Emotional Neglect:– 1981: 2.7/1,000– 1986: 4.5/1,000– 1993: 5.9/1,000

Do These Represent Real Changes?

Or Are They Reporting Changes?

Or Definition Changes?

Critical Factors in Neglect

• Child’s Age: < 1 Yr; 1-5 Yrs; 6-10 Yrs;11 + Yrs; Teens

• Pre-Born – Part of Anti-Abortion Movement– Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or Drug Abuse

• Degree of Abuse: “Abandonment”– In Room? Bathtub? House? How Long?

• Use of Criminal/Civil Sanctions Re Mothers • Parent Characteristics:

– Single Parents – Many Children – Young Mothers

Remedies

• Take Children Away?• Who Gets Them? Family? Foster Care?• What Impact on Child? Is Alternative Better?• Who Pays Cost? Will State Want to Pay?• Age Old Question: Is It Neglect?• Or a “Different Life Style”?

– EX: Working Mother Who Brought Children to Work & Left in Car