Elsevier

Child Abuse & Neglect

Volume 22, Issue 2, February 1998, Pages 79-90
Child Abuse & Neglect

Unemployment rates, single parent density, and indices of child poverty: Their relationship to different categories of child abuse and neglect

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0145-2134(97)00134-8Get rights and content

Abstract

Objective: There were two main research questions: First, is there a relationship between rates of child physical abuse, child sexual abuse and child neglect and levels of female and male unemployment, single-parent density and child poverty in the immediately local area; and second, is this relationship different for different categories of abuse and neglect and different categories of deprivation?

Method: Using archival data—registered cases of abuse and neglect and official data on child population, social worker ratio, unemployment rates, single-parent density, means-tested clothing grants and free school meals for children—a multiple correlational analysis was carried out of the 5,551 referrals and 1,450 registered cases of abuse and neglect in Glasgow, Scotland for the years 1991 through to 1993.

Results: Substantial correlations were found with all indices of deprivation but particularly physical abuse with rates of male unemployment. Lower and more variable correlations were found with female unemployment rates. Sexual abuse and neglect rates showed a less consistent relationship with the indices of deprivation. In general male unemployment rates alone accounted for two-thirds of the variance in total abuse and neglect rates, other factors adding little or nothing to this.

Conclusions: The results demonstrate the importance of selecting small and relatively homogeneous areas for this kind of analysis to achieve ecological validity. Male unemployment rates at this level allow for the ranking of areas in terms of priority need.

Résumé

Objectif: On se posa deux questions: d'abord, y a-t-il un lien entre les taux de mauvais traitements physiques et sexuels et de négligence d'une part, et, d'autre part, le taux de chômage pour les hommes et les femmes, la prépondérance de parents vivant seuls et le taux de pauvreté dans une région géographique donnée. Comme deuxième question, on cherchait à savoir s'il existe un lien entre les divers types de mauvais traitements et de négligence, et les différentes sortes de carence.

Méthode: En se servant de données archivales—soit des cas de mauvais traitements et de négligence inscrits dans des registres, des données officielles sur la population infantile, des rapports entre le nombre de travailleurs sociaux disponibles pour une population quiconque, des taux de chômage, la prépondérance de parents vivant seuls dans une certaine localité, les subventions accordées pour acheter des vêtements et les repas subventionnés à l'école-une analyse à variables multiples portant sur 5.551 signalements et 1.450 cas prouvés a été menée à Glasgow, en Ecossé, durant la période entre 1991 et 1993.

Résultats: On a noté une corrélation importante pour tous les indices de carence, mais surtout entre les mauvais traitements physiques et le chômage masculin, tandis que pour le chômage féminin, les corrélations étaient moins remarquables et plus variables. Pour les cas d'agressions sexuelles et de négligence, les liens avec la carence étaient moins constraints. En général, le taux de chômage des hommes à lui seul expliquait les deux tiers des variances pour tous les types de maltraitance. D'autres facteurs y étaient pour très peu, sinon rien.

Conclusions: Les résultats démontrent combien il est important de choisir des régions petites et relativement homogènes afin d'assurer la validité écologique. Le taux de chômage des hommes a permis de coter des régions selon un ordre prioritaire de besoins.

Resumen

Objetivo: Se establecieron dos preguntas centrales para la investigación: primero, si existía una relación entre las tasas de abuso físico, abuso sexual y la negligencia contra los niños en su área local inmediata; y segundo, si ésta relación es diferente de las diversas categorías de carencia.

Método: Utilizando datos de archivo: los casos registrados de abuso y negligencia, los datos oficiales sobre la población infantil, la proporción del trabajo social, las tasas de desempleo, la densidad de las familias uniparentales, los subsidios confirmados destinados a vestidos, y comidas escolares para los niños; se realizó un análisis múltiple de la correlación de los 5.551 referimientos y 1,450 casos registrados de abuso y negligencia en Glasgow, Escocia, desde los años 1991 hasta el 1993.

Resultados: Se obtuvieron correlaciones signifativas con todos los índices de carencia, pero en particular, el de abuso físico con las tasas de desempleo masculino. Se encontraron correlaciones bajas y variables para las tasas de desempleo femenino. Las tasas de abuso sexual mostraron una correlación menos consistente con los índices de carencia. En general, solo las tasas de desempleo masculino eran responsables de dos tercios de la varianza en las tasas generales totales de abuso y negligencia, los otros factores le agregaban poco o nada a esto.

Conclusiones: Los resultados demuestran la importancia de seleccionar áreas pequeñas y relativamente homogéneas para estos análisis de manera que se alcance validez ecológica. Las tasas de desempleo masculino en este nivel permiten la distribución de las áreas en relación a la prioridad de la necesidad.

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The research reported was funded by a grant from the Nuffield Foundation, London, England.

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