Child Maltreatment最新文献

Dimensional models of adversity are growing in popularity, but they have also been subjected to critique. For this analysis, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) data were drawn from a cohort of low-income adults to evaluate the Dimensional Model of Adversity and Psychopathology, which distinguishes experiences of threat and deprivation, and a recent extension of the life history model that differentiates three dimensions: (1) harshness/threat; (2) harshness/deprivation; (3) unpredictability. Confirmatory factor analyses of an expanded ACE assessment showed that both models fit the data well, though there were signs of low discriminant validity between dimensions. Harshness/threat was more strongly correlated with some physical and mental health outcomes and unpredictability was more strongly correlated with some indicators of risk behavior. Findings were largely consistent across models using latent measures and basic ACE scores. Further research is needed that compares dimensional models to cumulative risk models that are rudimentary but highly replicable.

Persistent substance use during the transition into adulthood increases risk for long-term mental and physical health problems. Participants (N = 483) and their caregivers were recruited at age 4 years due to exposure to (or high risk for) child abuse and/or neglect. Data on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) were collected prospectively during participant ages 0-18 years between the 1990s and early 2000s. In 2012, participants reported past 12-month substance use at a follow-up online survey in young adulthood (M_age = 23.8). A latent class analysis using nine dichotomous substance use indicators was fit to the data. Comparative fit indices favored a 4-class solution characterized by (1) high rates of tobacco and cannabis use (n = 66), (2) high rates of heroin/non-prescription opioid and non-prescription tranquilizer/sedative use (n = 21), (3) high rates of poly-substance use (n = 21), and (4) low rates of substance use (n = 375). Abstainers generally experienced fewer childhood adversities and adult IPV exposure relative to other classes and tended to report less substance use as adolescents. This work reinforces the prospective association between childhood adversity and problematic patterns of substance use observed in young adulthood, and offers key implications for providers, researchers, and policymakers.

Child sexual abuse (CSA) in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings is sometimes perceived as rare or the subject of a "moral panic". Recent high-profile cases challenge this characterisation, exposing systemic failures within contemporary childcare environments that enable the sexual abuse of very young children. This article examines six prosecuted CSA cases from high-income countries involving serial offending against children under the age of five to explore how such severe abuse can persist despite regulation and apparent safeguards, and contrary to persistent scholarly claims that child sex offenders do not target ECEC settings. Using gendered organisational theory, our analysis reveals how organisational cultures, gendered power dynamics, and failures in accountability contribute to the occurrence and concealment of abuse. By situating these cases within broader patriarchal structural contexts, the article offers a critical rethinking of institutional responsibility and proposes reforms to strengthen child protection in ECEC settings.

Using administrative data from the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) from 2017 to 2019, this study examined child welfare involvement among Asian American subgroups, addressing gaps in research through disaggregated data analysis. Findings revealed significant racial and ethnic disparities in child welfare outcomes, including differences in prior referrals, re-referrals, and case durations. While certain Asian subgroups-such as Chinese families-experienced shorter case durations, lower odds of prior referrals and recurrence compared to White families, others, including Filipino, Cambodian, Hmong, and Laotian families, showed limited or inconsistent differences from their White counterparts across these outcomes. These findings challenge the model minority stereotype, highlighting the diverse experiences of Asian American families in the child welfare system. Addressing these disparities requires disaggregated data collection and culturally responsive policies that improve service accessibility, ensure timely interventions, and better support the unique needs of Asian American subgroups.

Emotional neglect (EN) is severely underrepresented in child maltreatment research. The current study addressed this gap by estimating the prevalence and psychosocial consequences of EN in a sample of 1,926 low-income women who received home visiting services. Results indicated that 22% to 57% endured EN depending on the operational criteria, exceeding general population estimates. Rates of endorsement differed across racial/ethnic groups, underscoring the need to explore the extent to which prevalence varies along with sampling and measurement approaches. Regression analyses showed that EN was associated with mental health and relationship difficulties in adulthood, including higher depression, anxiety, and PTSD scores; lower levels of social support and relationship satisfaction; and an increased risk of intimate partner violence. Controlling for demographics and other adverse childhood experiences, EN was associated with small but robust effects on adult mental health and social relationships at two time points four years apart. Taken together, the findings confirm EN deserves greater attention from researchers and practitioners.

This study examined interviews with 53 4 to 15-year-old children recanting sexual abuse to determine whether they were forthcoming about potential influences and pressures that could have led them to recant. The great majority (87%) of children mentioned one or more influences or pressures. With respect to influences, about half of children mentioned their positive feelings for the suspect, and about a third mentioned negative consequences for the suspect. About 30% disclosed that their immediate family missed the suspect. About half mentioned concerns about separation from their family, and almost 30% discussed negative consequences for their mother. Pressures from others were mentioned by about half of children. They rarely mentioned pressures from the suspect, but over a third disclosed family pressures, most often the lack of maternal support. Over two-thirds of children described feeling guilty and other internal influences. The results provide preliminary support for questioning recanting children about influences and pressures.

The current study used survey methods to examine initial feasibility and acceptability of a real-world, trauma-informed schools initiative across 15 urban schools and 617 school personnel and classroom teachers. Key indicators included uptake of online asynchronous trauma-informed skills training (TISE) and usage of specific trauma-informed practices by classroom teachers. Approximately 83% of all school personnel completed TISE. Examination of implementation factors revealed organizational health was positively associated with TISE completion, while burnout negatively predicted training completion. Among the subsample of teachers, 76% percent of teachers reported implementing community-building circles, 95% implemented warm and intentional greetings, and 87% implemented mindfulness. For teachers, perceived utility of the practice positively predicted teachers' implementation of all three skills. Access to practice-focused training at their school predicted community circles implementation, and TISE knowledge predicted intentional greeting implementation. Study results highlight the role of organizational culture, practical support, and usable practices in scaling trauma-informed schools initiatives.

Indigenous children in settler-colonial societies have historically been exposed to frequent family separation; yet contemporary family separation through out-of-home-care (OOHC) remains understudied. We analyzed annual OOHC rates among indigenous and non-indigenous children (2010-2023) in four countries: Australia, United States, Denmark, and Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland). Data sources included national child welfare databases and population registers. We computed observed annual rates and generated age-standardized rates using parametric bootstrap approaches with Generalized Additive Models. We found that indigenous children experienced substantially higher OOHC rates across all countries. Annual rates ranged from around 1.5% (US) to around 6% (Australia, Greenland) among indigenous children, versus 0.6-0.9% among non-indigenous children. Risk ratios were highest in Australia (10.1-11.4) and lowest in the US (1.5-1.9). Our findings demonstrate that indigenous children remain disproportionately exposed to OOHC, with substantial cross-national variation in magnitude and age patterns that likely reflects different policy environments and child welfare practices.

Interventions for children at risk for fatal injury have been limited by the lack of systematic methods to detect and classify the circumstances surrounding deaths recorded in unstructured text narratives. To address this gap, we analyzed N = 453 child fatality reports from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (2016-2023). Each report was merged with the 2016-2021 American Community Survey (ACS) five-year estimates by county of death, incorporating county-level indicators of poverty and racial composition to provide sociodemographic context, as well as with report-level metadata on year and county of death. We then applied Natural Language Processing and Structured Topic Modeling, a machine learning algorithm that incorporated both ACS data and report metadata, to identify common themes in the narratives. The model revealed 11 distinct categories that included Severe Traumatic Injury (12%); Homicide due to Parental Neglect (10%); Medical History or Illness (11%); Institutional Negligence (5.3%); Sleep-Related Deaths (12%); Aggravated Assault (11%); Substance Misuse (13.4%); Failure to Supervise (6%); Supervisory Neglect (6%); Drowning (8%); and Firearm-Related Injury (6%). Analysis of temporal and sociodemographic covariates showed that some themes (e.g., Homicide due to Parental Neglect) declined over time, while others (e.g., Substance Misuse) became more prevalent. Counties with higher poverty levels and larger non-White populations showed a greater prevalence of Firearm-Related Injury and Severe Traumatic Injury, while counties with larger non-White populations had lower rates of Drowning and a marginal association with fewer Sleep-Related Deaths. Integrating ACS data and report-level metadata with computational text analysis and machine learning models can generate actionable insights into the circumstances of child deaths, strengthen fatality surveillance, and inform targeted prevention strategies.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Illinois funded the rapid scale-up of a whole-school trauma approach, Resilience Education to Advance Community Healing (REACH). Schools that took part in REACH formed a team, participated in training, completed the Trauma Responsive Schools Implementation Assessment (TRS-IA) and then developed an action plan based on the results of that assessment. The independent, quasi-experimental outcome evaluation of REACH capitalized on natural contrasts between the 950 schools that enrolled in REACH and the 3,035 schools that did not, and REACH schools that attained more versus fewer implementation milestones. Analyses showed that 132 REACH schools with pre/post data significantly improved their scores on all eight dimensions of the TRS-IA. Controlling for school characteristics and baseline levels of outcome variables, we saw that REACH schools were more likely to retain their teachers than were schools that had not enrolled in REACH. REACH schools that were "engaged" had fewer students who were chronically absent than REACH schools that were not engaged. REACH schools that were "very engaged" had fewer out-of- school suspensions than schools that were not engaged. There was no relationship between REACH and school climate. Overall, REACH is a promising whole-school trauma-responsive intervention.