Top

Published in:

01-02-2010 | Original Article

Characteristic Features of Severe Child Physical Abuse—A Multi-informant Approach

Authors: Eva -Maria Annerbäck, Carl -Göran Svedin, Per A. Gustafsson

Published in: Journal of Family Violence | Issue 2/2010

Abstract

Minor child physical abuse has decreased in Sweden since 1979, when a law banning corporal punishment of children was passed, but more serious forms have not decreased. The aim of this study was to examine risk and background factors in cases of severe child abuse reported to the police. Files from different agencies (e.g., Social services, Adult and Child psychiatry and Pediatric clinic) for 20 children and 34 caretakers were studied. An accumulation of risk factors was found. It is concluded that when the following four factors are present, there is a risk for severe child abuse: 1) a person with a tendency to use violence in conflict situations; 2) a strong level of stress on the perpetrator and the family; 3) an insufficient social network that does not manage to protect the child; 4) a child that does not manage to protect him or herself. Thus, multiple sources of information must be used when investigating child abuse.

Available only for authorised users

Allmänna barnhuset 2007:4. Våld mot barn 2006/2007. (Violence against children) (In Swedish). Stockholm: Stiftelsen Allmänna barnhuset.

Annerbäck, E. M., Lindell, C., Svedin, C. G., & Gustafsson, P. A. (2007). Severe child abuse: a study of cases reported to the police. Acta Paediatrica, 96, 1760–1764.CrossRefPubMed

Araji, S., & Finkelhor, D. (1986). Abusers: a review of the research. In D. Finkelhor (Ed.), Sourcebook on child sexual abuse. Beverly Hills: CA, Sage.

Bardi, M., & Borgognini-Tarli, S. M. (2001). A survey on parent-child conflict resolution: intrafamily violence in Italy. Child Abuse and Neglect, 6, 839–853.CrossRef

Browne, K., & Herbert, M. (1997). Preventing family violence. Chichester: Wiley.

Browne, K., Davies, C., & Stratton, P. (1988). Early prediction and prevention of child abuse. Chichester: Wiley.

Cocozza, M., Gustafsson, P. A., & Sydsjö, G. (2007). Who suspects and reports child maltreatment to Social Services in Sweden? Is there a reliable mandatory reporting process? European Journal of social Work, 10, 209–223.CrossRef

Dale, P., Green, R., & Fellows, R. (2002). What really Happened. London: National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).

Edleson, J. L. (1999). The overlap between child maltreatment and woman battering. Violence against woman, 5, 134–54.CrossRef

Gelles, R. J., & Edfeldt, A. W. (1986). Violence towards children in the United States and Sweden. Child Abuse and Neglect, 10, 501–510.CrossRefPubMed

Gilbert, N. (1997). Combatting child abuse: international perspectives and trends. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Hornor, G. (2005). Physical abuse: recognition and reporting. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 19, 4–11.PubMed

Larzelere, R. E., & Johnsson, B. (1999). Evaluation of the effects of Swedens spanking ban on physical child abuse rates: a litterature review. Psychological Report, 85, 381–392.CrossRef

Lindell, C., & Svedin, C. G. (2001). Physical child abuse in Sweden: a study of police reports between 1986 and 1996. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol., 36, 150–157.CrossRefPubMed

Miller, B. V., Fox, B. R., & Garcia-Beckwith, L. (1999). Intervening in severe physical child abuse cases: mental health, legal and social services. Child Abuse and Neglect, 23, 905–914.CrossRefPubMed

Olivián-Gonzalvo, G. (2002). Maltreatment of children with disabilities: charateristics and risk factors. Anales EspanÄoles de PediatriÂa, 56, 219–223.

Rädda Barnen. (2007). Barnfattigdomen i Sverige: Årsrapport 2006. (Child poverty in Sweden: Annual report 2006). (In Swedish). Stockholm: Rädda barnen.

SFS 1962:700, kap 3. Brottsbalken. (The Penal Code).

SOU 1997:29. Pedofili, barnpornografi och sexuella övergrepp mot barn. (Pedophilia, Childpornography and Child sexual abuse). (In Swedish). Stockholm: Fritzes.

SOU 2001:18. Barn och misshandel—En rapport om kroppslig bestraffning och annan misshandel i Sverige vid slutet av 1900-talet. (Children and Abuse—A report of Physical Punishment and other types of Abuse in Sweden). (In Swedish). Stockholm: Fritzes.

SOU 2001:72. Barnmisshandel—Att förebygga och åtgärda. (Child Abuse—Prevention and Protection). (In Swedish with an English summary). Stockholm: Fritzes.

Statistiska centralbyrån. (1982:4). Socioekonomisk indelning (2nd ed.). (Socioeconomic Status). (In Swedish). Stockholm: Statistiska centralbyrån.

Sullivan, P. M., & Knutson, J. F. (2000). Maltreatment and disabilities: A populationbased epidemiological study. Child Abuse and Neglect, 24, 1257–1273.CrossRefPubMed

Söderström, H. (2002). Neuropsychiatric backkground factors to violent crime. Dissertation, Göteborg: Göteborg universitety, Institute for Clinical Neuroscience.

Weinehall, K. (1997). Att växa upp i våldets närhet : ungdomars berättelser om våld i hemmet. (Growing up in the proximity of violence: teenagers’ stories of violence in the home). Dissertation, Umeå: Umeå University, Faculty of Social Sciences

Wiklund, S. (2007). United we stand? Collaboration as a means for identifying children and adolescents at risk. International Journal of Social Welfare, 16, 202–211.CrossRef

Title: Characteristic Features of Severe Child Physical Abuse—A Multi-informant Approach
Authors: Eva -Maria Annerbäck
Carl -Göran Svedin
Per A. Gustafsson
Publication date: 01-02-2010
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Family Violence / Issue 2/2010
Print ISSN: 0885-7482
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2851
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-009-9280-1

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Characteristic Features of Severe Child Physical Abuse—A Multi-informant Approach

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 2/2010

Examining an Extension of Johnson’s Hypothesis: Is Male Perpetrated Intimate Partner Violence More Underreported than Female Violence?

History of Abuse and Current Suicidal Ideation: Results from a Population Based Survey

High Risk Behaviors Among Victims of Sibling Violence

Developmental Pathways into Social and Sexual Deviance

Violent Acts and Injurious Consequences: An Examination of Competing Hypotheses About Intimate Partner Violence Using Agency-Based Data

Men’s Self-Reported Descriptions and Precipitants of Domestic Violence Perpetration as Reported in Intake Evaluations