TY - JOUR PY - 1997// TI - Risk Factors for the Occurrence of Child Abuse and Neglect JO - Journal of aggression, maltreatment and trauma A1 - Sedlak, Andrea J. SP - 149 EP - 187 VL - 1 IS - 1 N2 - A large, nationally representative database of child abuse and neglect cases was analyzed to identify demographic risk factors for the occurrence of different types of abuse and neglect. The analyses used the data collected in the second National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect (the NIS-2) concerning children who were harmed by abuse or neglect. Multiple-factor logistic models were developed to identify risk factors for the occurrence of abuse or neglect in six categories of maltreatment: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional maltreatment, physical neglect, educational neglect, and multiple maltreatment. A key finding was that children in families with incomes under $15,000 per year were at far greater risk in every category of maltreatment. Also, older children were generally at greater risk in every category, and risk was related to family structure, family size, child's sex and race/ethnicity, and metropolitan status of the county. However, these relationships applied to only certain types of abuse or neglect or took different forms in different maltreatment categories. Interactions among risk factors were the rule rather than the exception. Findings emphasize the need for better coordination between human services and income support services to families. The results imply that risk assessment would be appreciable advanced by going beyond simple matrix approaches that independently consider different factors by developing assessment models that include interactions between different risk factors.

LA - SN - 1092-6771 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1300/J146v01n01_09 ID - ref1 ER -