Child Abuse Review最新文献

Child maltreatment is one of the most stressful and traumatic experiences that affect the development of children and adolescents. However, scant research has focused on promoting positive growth out of the traumatic experiences of this population. The current study aimed to apply the developmental assets model to a sample of maltreated adolescents from rural China to explore how to promote their positive growth and to understand the mechanism through which protective factors at various levels synergistically contribute to positive developmental outcomes. This study employed a cross-sectional survey design and used a two-stage clustered sampling method. A sample of 561 students who indicated maltreatment experiences was included for analysis in this study. Among them, 51.4% were female, aged 16.19 (SD = 1.50). The results of hierarchical linear regression analysis revealed that developmental assets, both external (family functioning, school connectedness and village engagement) and internal (resilience and meaning in life), contributed to positive developmental outcomes (life satisfaction, emotional well-being and prosocial behaviours). The results of structural equation modelling analysis provided a good fit for the sample as a whole. The overall findings supported the hypotheses that higher levels of internal assets were associated with higher levels of developmental outcomes. Internal assets also mediated the effects of family functioning and school connectedness on three developmental outcomes. Unexpectedly, village engagement only showed a significant direct effect on prosocial behaviours. The findings highlighted the role of developmental assets and suggested that building developmental assets should be emphasized to promote positive growth of maltreated adolescents in China. Implications for theory, practice and policy are discussed.

The Children and Young People's Secure Estate (CYPSE) accommodates some of the most vulnerable children and young people (CYP) in the United Kingdom. Literature shows that mental health difficulties are four times more common in this population, who have frequently experienced trauma. However, little attention has been paid to their subjective well-being. This evaluation explored the subjective well-being and mental health needs of CYP admitted to a Secure Children's Home in the north of England. Thirty-four CYP completed a range of mental health and subjective well-being psychometric assessments upon admission. Participants expressed low life satisfaction, mild symptoms of depression and anger, moderate perceived stress and low mental well-being. In this evaluation, females reported lower self-concept, less satisfaction with their appearance and more common depressive difficulties than their male peers. Overall, the respondents expressed the highest satisfaction about their relationships with friends. This evaluation broadens the focus of attention to include CYP's well-being and factors that add meaning to their lives. The results highlight the need to involve CYP in interventions and service design, as well as the value of gender-informed practices. Suggestions for practice development and future research are outlined for the CYPSE in line with the SECURE STAIRS Framework.

Children who experience sexual abuse encounter significant barriers to disclosing their trauma and depend on nonabusing adults for appropriate support and safeguarding measures to protect them from further harm. The United Kingdom, a proudly multicultural nation, has integrated the concept of ‘cultural sensitivity’ into its policy and legislation to accommodate its diverse population. However, safeguarding children in ethnic minority and faith-based communities often proves challenging for practitioners, leading to these communities being labelled as ‘hard to reach’. The proposed solution is to involve community representatives or organizations in the statutory process. This paper uses fictionalized case examples, drawn from recurring themes observed in my professional and personal experience as a service provider, to highlight some of the lesser-known barriers that Charedi children face when dealing with sexual abuse. It examines the role of the Charedi community in restricting children's safety and inflicting further harm. The analysis reveals that when ‘cultural sensitivity’ conflicts with best safeguarding practices, Charedi children are ultimately left unprotected.

Unusual child abuse manifestations and abuse mimics are unlikely to be identified in large studies. Over 15 years, the authors selected and moderated Helfer Society Annual Meeting presentations highlighting unusual findings. We review those presentations, highlighting the educational value of case reports. The authors independently reviewed and categorized original presentations. Disagreements were resolved jointly. Summary numbers and supplementary tables are provided. Fifteen annual presentations included 201 individual cases. Abuse had occurred for 62 (30.8%) children, and 142 (70.6%) had abuse mimics. Presentations, over time, changed from mostly by faculty (81.2%) to half by trainees (51.6%). Twenty-five presentations led to publications. Many serious causal conditions and underlying diseases were identified. Unusual abuse manifestations and abuse mimics are unlikely to appear in large institutional or research consortium studies. They are lost in “other” categories of large databases. Being aware of them is important to conduct a thorough differential diagnosis. Case reports can be important presentation opportunities, can highlight unusual conditions, and can be springboards to further research. The role of child abuse paediatricians is not only to diagnose abuse but also to conduct thorough medical evaluations and consider broad differential diagnoses. In doing so, many serious nonabusive conditions can be identified.

In this ecological study, we sought to determine whether an association exists between state-level teen birth rates and child maltreatment referral rates. The exposure and outcome of interest were the annual state-level teen birth rate for girls 15–19 years and the annual state child maltreatment referral rate for children under 6 years from 2002 to 2017. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) negative binomial models were used to assess the association between state-level, race-specific annual teen birth rates and child maltreatment rates. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were estimated for each race category. One additional birth per 100 teens was significantly associated with a 25% greater risk of maltreatment referral among American Indian or Alaska Native children, a 45% greater risk among Asian or Pacific Islander children, an 11% greater risk among Black children, and an 18% greater risk among White children. Overall, the state rate of child maltreatment increases with the number of teen births and this effect varies significantly by race.

This commentary responds to recent research by Zengin et al., who investigated nursing students' attitudes towards reporting child abuse and neglect in Izmir, Türkiye. Although the study highlights a strong sense of reporting responsibility among future nurses, it also uncovers lingering apprehensions, including uncertainty about legal definitions and fears of worsening the child's circumstances. Drawing on related literature, this commentary emphasizes the need for structured curricula and clinical mentorship to promote sustained competence in mandatory reporting. It advocates for simulation-based training, case-based discussions and collaboration with legal and social service experts to ease concerns over repercussions. Cross-disciplinary initiatives could illustrate that timely reporting offers measurable benefits for vulnerable children. With this synergy of theory, practice and interagency support, nurse educators can better prepare student nurses to fulfil their ethical responsibility, ensuring that child abuse no longer remains concealed in healthcare settings. These steps towards clearer policy, practical skill-building and continuing support will help transform transient academic knowledge into effective, compassionate interventions—ultimately strengthening safeguards for at-risk children.

Bronfenbrenner's ecological framework viewed human development as a process influenced by interconnected systems that interact and impact children's development. Applying this framework highlights the importance of identifying and understanding protective factors nested at multiple levels. This study seeks to explore the factors that facilitate children's ability to cope with exposure to domestic violence, recognizing the essential role of understanding how children navigate adversity in this context. Data for this qualitative study came from eight children aged 10–15 who are no longer living in an abusive home. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling with assistance from a social service agency. The study findings reveal the presence of protective factors at multiple levels. These protective factors were nested within microsystems (individual characteristics), exosystems (parental factors) and macrosystems (family members and peer factors), and they were instrumental in helping children navigate stressful situations, lower levels of violence-related stress and boost their resilience and well-being. This study's findings illustrate the significance and importance of protective factors that promote resilience and strength in children exposed to domestic violence. Supportive and extended family networks can provide critical resources, guidance and encouragement and contribute significantly to nurturing emotional, physical and mental strength.