Citation

Egley LC. J. Marriage Fam. 1991; 53(4): 885-897.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1991, National Council on Family Relations, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article questions Straus and Gelles' (1986) conclusion that child abuse and wife abuse were substantially lower in 1985 than in 1975. By refining cohort analysis to apply to sample data, the study demonstrates that changes in the age structures of the adult and child population explain most of the reported reduction. Much of the remaining change may have resulted when respondents' reactions to the survey and children's age of eligibility changed. Applying cohort analysis to samples can help determine patterns underlying changes in cross-sectional rates. Analysis of missing values can help users recognize changed respondents' reactions to surveys.