A total of 116 mothers of preschool children and 230 female college students responded to a 60-question survey designed to assess attitudes and opinions concerning physical child abuse in four categories: legal issues, treatment issues, behaviors constituting child abuse, and attitudes toward physical discipline. Students were significantly more…

A sample of 1,172 cases of both confirmed and unconfirmed child abuse was analyzed in an attempt to identify major demographic variables which might be associated with differential case handling. The data were collected by transferring previously recorded information on child injury cases from state central registries to a standardized form. The…

This paper reports findings of a retrospective longitudinal reconstruction of child welfare service activities in Canada. The first section discusses demographic developments and the child welfare services. It is reported that the increase in the number of children in care in the 20-year period from 1940 to 1960 was to some extent a reflection of…

Since the phenomenon of reabuse is postulated as being more probable after initial child abuse than is the probability of an initial abuse and since only modest inquiry has been directed at this phenomenon, research was conducted to answer two questions: Is there patterning to reabuse? And if so, is this different in metro and nonmetro…

Extending an earlier analysis by Giovannoni and Becerra (1979) that compared attitudes of Blacks, Hispanics, and Whites toward child abuse and neglect, this discussion provides an in-depth analysis of responses by Black parents. Vignettes describing situations of potential risk to children were rated by 129 Black respondents. The vignettes…

Extreme classroom discipline can cause post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) in children. Only extraordinary stressors qualify as stressors resulting in PTSD, yet this requirement is inadequate. Although corporal punishment may be common and acceptable in certain areas, acutely corporally punished children exhibit PTSD, regardless of the region.…

Social policy for child welfare in Canada should be tested in terms of what it does to support the integrity of the family. The Canadian family in recent years has changed as infant morality rates have fallen, and as the number of illegitimate births, marriages, divorces, and women working has increased. Although the child population as a whole…

This study examined the underlying common origins of pediatric social illnesses (i.e., child abuse and neglect, failure to thrive, accidents, and poisonings) in children under age 4. Subjects were 560 children admitted to the Children's Hospital Medical Center in Boston. Children admitted with pediatric social diagnoses were matched on the basis…