Citation

Koivula T, Ellonen N, Janson S, Jernbro C, Huhtala H, Paavilainen E. J. Child Health Care 2018; 22(3): 317-331.

Affiliation

South Ostrobothnia Hospital District, Seinäjoki, Finland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1367493518757379

PMID

29415561

Abstract

This article describes psychological aggression and physical violence by Swedish and Finnish mothers ( N = 3420) towards their 0- to 12-year-old children with disabilities ( N = 286) by comparing such behaviour with the mothers of children without disabilities ( N = 3134). The survey data are based on representative samples from Finland and Sweden of mothers' reports of their behaviour towards their child in conflict situations. Mothers of children with disabilities reported more psychological aggression towards their child than did mothers of children without disabilities. Mothers used psychological aggression, especially towards children with neurological/psychological disabilities. However, the only significant difference regarding physical violence was repetitive use of mild physical violence. Overall, the analysis suggests that children with neurological/psychological disabilities are more exposed to both psychological and physical violence than children without disabilities or children with somatic/developmental disabilities.

Language: en

Keywords

Child; disability; long-term illness; mother; violence