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Abstract
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Fifty-nine physically abused children demonstrated a significantly higher incidence of self-destructive behavior than two control groups of nonabused children, one neglected and one normal. The self-destructive behavior, including suicide attempts and self-mutilation, was potentiated by interrelated variables operating in the abused child and his environment. Often enhanced by the ego deficits and impaired impulse control of the abused children, this behavior seemed to represent a learned pattern originating in early traumatic experiences with hostile primary objects.
VioLit summary:
OBJECTIVE:
The purpose of this study by Green was to test the hypothesis that a child's experience of repeated physical abuse potentiates his or her development of self-destructive behavior.
METHODOLOGY:
An quasi-experimental design was employed. The study included an experimental group of 60 abused children and control groups of 30 "neglected" and 30 "normal" children who were not maltreated. The children ranged in age between 5 years and 12 years. The number of boys and girls were proportional and the groups were comparable with respect to the mean age of the children. The children were predominantly black and Hispanic and all were from low-income families. This sample was judged by the author to be representative of the ghetto areas from which it was drawn. The abused children were referred by the Bureau of Child Welfare and the Family Court of New York City. Abuse meant specifically that it was continuing or recurrent and confirmed; the majority of abused children lived at home. The sample of neglected was obtained from the Family Court. The criterion for neglect consisted of the court finding that the parent(s) failed to provide adequate physical care including food, clothing, medical care, and supervision. A neglected control group was included to control for the background of physical deprivation and neglect that often accompanies physical abuse in this ghetto population. The normal control group children were randomly referred volunteers from the pediatric out-patient clinic at Kings County Hospital. Detailed interviews, 1 to 1 1/2 hours, were conducted with the mother or maternal guardian by a psychiatrist or psychiatric social worker to determine the presence of self-destructive behavior among the children. Questions indicating child self-destructive behavior concerned possible forms of self-mutilation and self-destructive activity such as self-biting, self-cutting, self-burning, hair pulling, and suicide attempts, threats, or gestures. The presence or absence of self-destructive behavior and/or suicidal ideation was determined for each child and then summed into each group. Chi-square was used to analyze the differences between the 3 groups. Final analysis was done on 59 abused and 29 neglected children because of missing data.
FINDINGS/DISCUSSION:
A significantly higher incidence of self-destructive behavior was reported in the abused children. Of 59 abused children, 24 (40.6%) exhibited self-destructive behavior, and only 5 of the 29 neglected children (17.2%) and 2 of 30 normal controls (6.7%) were self destructive (p<.01). The difference between the abused and neglected children was also significant. Five abused children had attempted suicide (4 girls and 1 boy), 2 had made suicidal gestures (2 boys), and 12 were self-mutilators (5 girls and 7 boys). Six of the self-mutilators also manifested suicidal ideation, and 5 boys expressed suicidal ideation only. Self-destructive behavior was precipitated by parental beatings or occurred in response to actual or threatened separation from key parental figures. To rule out the possibility that self-destructive children were motivated by psychotic conditions unique to abused children; WISC and WPPSI scores were compared with those of non-self-destructive abused children. No significant differences were found. When compared to abused children, neglected children exhibited a lower incidence of self-destructive behavior. Child abuse was defined as a pathological syndrome of family interaction. Characterized by acute physical and psychological abuse, a harsh and punitive child rearing atmosphere, early maternal deprivation and object loss and scapegoating, these components have been largely responsible for the development of self-destructive behavior in children.
EVALUATION:
This study reports yet more of the damaging effects of parental abuse on children. The sample size was large for a study of this sort. The selection of the sample was biased in that only those children who had been actually referred to official authorities were included, and Blacks and Hispanics were oversampled. Collection of data from interviews with mothers could have been supplemented with other data. The findings would have been more convincing if controls for such variables as SES, gender, and other potential antecedents had been included. This research points to another area in the phenomenon of child abuse that needs study. (CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado)
KW - New York
KW - Child Development
KW - Child Victim
KW - Child Abuse Effects
KW - Child Abuse-Behavior Link
KW - Child Abuse Victim
KW - Child Physical Abuse Effects
KW - Child Physical Abuse Victim
KW - Child Behavior
KW - Self Destructive Behavior
KW - Self Mutilation
KW - Psychological Victimization Effects
KW - Domestic Violence Effects
KW - Domestic Violence Victim
Language: en |