This study examined the relationship between self-reported childhood physical and sexual abuse, romantic relationship quality, possible gender differences, and clinical implications. Three hundred thirty-eight women and 296 men who sought services at a university mental health clinic in the northeast region of the United States completed a…

This study evaluated parenting attitudes, family environments, depression, and anxiety in a sample of primarily minority urban mothers to better understand maltreating mothers (n = 83), who retain custody of their children and how they are similar to and different from foster mothers (n = 50), kin caregivers (n = 52) of maltreated children, and…

"Veteran parents" (VPs), or parents who have experienced challenges concerning their children's health and then mentor other families through similar situations, are widely used for parent support. This model has been adopted by Child Protective Services (CPS) to increase parent engagement. Here, we expand the theoretical discussion of VPs in CPS…

This study examined the intergenerational transmission of abuse among a sample of 681 teen, adult low-resource, and adult high-resource first-time mothers. Participants ranged in age from 14 to 36 years, with a mean of 20 years. Exposure to childhood emotional and to physical abuse were associated with 6-month parenting behavior but not with…

Corporal punishment (CP) remains highly prevalent in the United States despite its association with increased risk for child aggression and physical abuse. Five focus groups were conducted with parents (n = 18) from a community at particularly high risk for using CP (Black, low socioeconomic status, Southern) in order to investigate their…

Reviews literature surrounding possible limitations of criminal justice system and child protective services system in treatment of children who have been sexually abused. Discusses suggestions for ways investigation and adjudication systems could be improved to better meet needs of children. Gives implications for practitioners to provide…

Responds to previous articles by Fincham, Beach, Moore, and Diener (this issue) on child sexual abuse. Considers how accurate very young children's recollections are about events, people, and places from their distant past, and how likely their testimony is to be biased about such matters if interviewers use leading questions or suggestive…

Reviews the current research on the effectiveness of parent training programs aimed at parents at high risk for child maltreatment. Summarizes this literature and draws implications for designing more effective programs to meet the needs of this difficult-to-reach group. (Author/MKA)

Discusses environmental stress within ecosystem framework as predictor of migrant farm child abuse and neglect. Reviews relationship among individual, family, community, and cultural elements as primary etiologic factor in maltreatment of migrant children. Points to need for strengthening family and neighborhood systems through changes in…

This study undertook to identify the characteristics of caretakers who commit child sexual abuse. Among 2,372 cases of founded sexual abuse in Iowa, biologically unrelated caretakers were substantially overrepresented, and male perpetrators greatly outnumbered female perpetrators. Implications for practice are discussed. (Author/TE)

Data from Second National Family Violence Survey revealed no significant differences between genetic and nongenetic parents in rates of severe and very severe violence toward children. Findings have implications for diagnosing cases of child abuse and for biosocial theory of child maltreatment. (Author/NB)

Evaluated legal representation for children in child protection proceedings, using data from a random sample of cases and attorneys in North Carolina. Results showed the attorneys, in general, produced no significant benefits for the children. Based on results, identifies particular types of effective attorneys. (NRB)

Discusses family factors associated with child abuse from an ecological perspective. Identifies economic and cultural generative factors of child abuse. Explores special circumstances affecting occurrence of child maltreatment. Examines dimensions of responsiveness, demandingness, and parental authority patterns in their application to abusive…

Responds to previous article by Fincham, Beach, Moore, and Diener (this issue) on child sexual abuse. Focuses on importance of recognizing that attempts to reduce probability of false claims of child abuse would result in increasing probability of missing true claims of child abuse. Offers hypothesis-testing framework as useful heuristic for…

Victims of child abuse and neglect and children of divorce need independent representation in court. States are required to provide representatives for all eligible children. Literature review identified three major barriers to effective representation: lack of qualified personnel, insufficient funding, and time and compensation constraints.…