Re: NSPCC new UK prevalence study

[Jennifer Guimond <jguimond@xxxxxxx>]

I wonder if these findings apply to other countries.  Does anyone know of
similar comprehensive studies on child maltreatment from other countries?

Peter Dale wrote:

> The following extracts are from press releases re new prevalence research
> published on 20th November:
>
> NSPCC REPORT SHATTERS CHILD ABUSE MYTHS
>
> Common stereotypes about child abuse are overturned in the National Society
> for the prevention of Cruelty to Children's (NSPCC) largest ever study of
> child maltreatment.
>
> Myth: the most common form of abuse suffered by children at home is sexual
> abuse. Fact: children are seven times more likely to be beaten badly by
> their parents than sexually abused by them.
>
>  Myth: most sexual abuse occurs between fathers and their daughters.
> Fact: this type of incestuous relationship is rare, occurring in less than
> four in a thousand cases. The most likely relative to abuse within the
> family is a brother or stepbrother.
>
>  Myth: adults are responsible for most sexual violence against children and
> young people outside the family.
> Fact: children are most likely to be forced into unwanted sexual activity by
> other young people, must usually from someone described as a 'boyfriend.'
> Less than three in a thousand of the young people reported sexual behaviour
> against their wishes with  professionals working with children.
>
>  Myth: sexual attacks on children from strangers are common.
> Fact: sexual assaults involving contact by strangers are very rare. Even
> with indecent exposure, only seven per cent of the young people reported
> ever having been 'flashed at', and just over a third of these said the
> person was a stranger.
>
> Myth: most physical abuse is carried out by men, especially fathers.
> Fact: violent acts towards children are more likely to be meted out by
> mothers than fathers (49% of the sample experienced this from mothers and
> 40% from fathers).
>
> SUMMARY OF RESEARCH FINDINGS
>
> Child Maltreatment in the United Kingdom is the most authoritative survey of
> child maltreatment, abuse and neglect yet undertaken in the UK. The study is
> based on 'random-probability' interviews with 2,869 young people aged 18-24
> conducted by survey research company BMRB International between September
> 1998 and February 1999.
>
> For ethical and practical reasons, it would have been wrong to interview
> children on this subject in this type of survey. So the study is based on
> interviews with young people aged 18 - 24 conducted by survey research
> company BMRB International between September 1998 and February 1999.
>
> This is the only UK study, and one of the few world wide, to examine
> maltreatment comprehensively, in a large random probability sample of the
> general population. The 2,869 young people, aged 18-24 years were
> interviewed using Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) and able to
> enter their answers directly to ensure confidentiality. They were contacted
> through addresses taken randomly from the Postcode Address File, the method
> used in all major national surveys.
>
> The interviews covered broad aspects of childhood experience, including
> aspects of family life, social relationships, perspectives on child abuse
> and experience of abuse and neglect in the family and other contexts. The
> sample was drawn from all parts of the UK. Most (56 per cent) were still
> living with their parents. Another 18 per cent were living with partners,
> while 8 per cent lived alone and 15 per cent had their own children.
>
> The interview questions did not define abuse or neglect but asked the young
> people if they had experienced a range of treatments, some positive and some
> negative, as children. Respondents who indicated possible childhood abuse or
> neglect were asked more detailed questions about their experiences. The
> survey achieved a response rate of 69 per cent which is unusually high for
> surveys on this topic. Almost all (98%) of the respondents felt the survey
> was worthwhile and 85 per cent said that they would definitely be willing to
> take part in further NSPCC research.
>
> More than nine out of ten of young people interviewed said they grew up in
> warm and loving families. But one in three respondents also reported that
> there was sometimes 'a lot of stress' in their families. The same proportion
> reported financial pressures and worries. More than a quarter said "there
> are things that happened in my childhood that I find hard to talk about".
>
> Children from all social backgrounds suffer abuse and maltreatment. But the
> survey found strong links between serious physical abuse or neglect and the
> current socio-economic grade of the respondent, reflecting both aspects of
> their social background and the damaging effect that adverse childhood
> experience has on educational and other life chances.
>
> Physical violence against children in the UK is primarily a family affair.
> Seven per cent of the young people suffered serious physical abuse at the
> hands of parents and carers, including being hit with a fist or an
> implement, beaten up, burned and scalded. Mothers were as likely as fathers
> to physically abuse their children.
>
> The young people reported that most parents used physical punishment rarely
> and lightly, but a minority used it regularly and severely. Parents who
> smacked their children regularly often caused bruising, pain or soreness
> lasting at least until next day - it seemed that the frequent users of
> physical punishment were also likely to be the most severe users.
>
> Six per cent of respondents suffered serious absence of physical care at
> home, including regularly being left without food as a young child, not
> being looked after or taken to the doctor when ill, or being left to fend
> for themselves because parents were absent or had drug or alcohol problems.
>
> There had also been serious absence of supervision for some respondents,
> with one per cent allowed to stay at home alone overnight when they were
> under 10 and four per cent allowed out overnight with their whereabouts
> unknown when they were under 14.
>
> Emotional abuse is one of the most hidden and often underestimated forms of
> child maltreatment.  The study found that almost six per cent of respondents
> had suffered multiple attacks on their wellbeing within their families.
> These included, among others, living with frequent violence between their
> parents, having treasured possessions deliberately destroyed by parents,
> being regularly humiliated, or being told that their parents wished them
> dead or never born.
>
> Sexual abuse of children within the family is less common. One per cent of
> young people were sexually assaulted by a parent or carer. Three per cent of
> the young people suffered sexual abuse by another relative, ranging from
> penetrative or oral sex to taking pornographic photographs of them. A wide
> range of - mainly male - relatives were involved, most often brothers or
> stepbrothers. Girls were far more likely than boys to experience all forms
> of sexual abuse.
>
> Sexual violence is more likely to take place outside the family than within
> it. One in ten young people had experienced penetrative sex, oral sex or
> attempts at these against their will by people unrelated to them. Nearly all
> were people known to the child, most commonly 'boyfriends', friends of
> brothers or sisters, or fellow students.
>
> Many of those who experienced coercive sex acts reported the use of physical
> force or threat. Girls were far more likely than boys to have experienced
> coercive sexual activity. Almost one in three young people had never told
> anyone about their unwanted sexual experiences, and only just over a quarter
> had sought help at the time.
>
> The only category of unwanted sexual activity experienced to any great
> extent from strangers (usually men) was indecent exposure. But two per cent
> of the young people reported sexual abuse involving physical contact by a
> stranger or someone recently met.
>
> The most common source of distress and misery to children is bullying and
> discrimination by other young people. 43 per cent of the young people were
> bullied or discriminated against by other children, and eight per cent said
> this happened regularly over years. They were bullied mostly because of
> personal characteristics such as size, dress, race or manner of speech.
> Name-calling, insults and verbal abuse were most common but 14 to 15 per
> cent were physically attacked, and many young people also experienced having
> their property stolen or damaged. The overwhelming number of bullying
> incidents took place at school.
>
> CONCLUSION
>
> Families are the primary source of love and nurturing for nearly all
> children. But significant minorities of children are confronted - either
> occasionally or regularly - by stresses, problems and abusive behaviour with
> which they should not have to cope.
>
> For many children too, the wider world of school, friends and community is
> one which is fraught with the threats of bullying, discrimination and -
> particularly for girls - sexual harassment and violence.
>
> This study underlines the need for children's voices to be heard by the
> people who can help them. Children need the self-confidence to speak out and
> someone they trust and in whom they can confide.
>
> Large numbers of children find it too difficult to talk about the abuse and
> difficulties which they face in their lives. If they do tell someone, it is
> very unlikely to be a professional concerned with their care. In this way,
> distressing and harmful childhood experiences can remain hidden for many
> years.
>
> In terms of severity and frequency, there are different levels of child
> maltreatment.  When children at risk of significant harm are identified,
> children's services must act quickly and decisively to protect them. And
> firm action against carers may be appropriate when a child has suffered
> serious abuse or neglect.
>
> However, not all cruelty to children is planned or intended to cause harm.
> Our approach to child protection must be a sophisticated one, geared up for
> preventing child abuse and neglect.
>
> Although children from all social backgrounds can suffer maltreatment, the
> study found strong links between serious physical abuse or neglect and
> socio-economic grade. This indicates that children in families facing
> poverty and social exclusion are particularly vulnerable. If we are serious
> about reducing the incidence of child cruelty, we must give more support to
> those families pushed to the limits by extreme stress, medical conditions or
> socio-economic pressures.
>
> The report is priced £23. Available from NSPCC Publications Unit, 42 Curtain
> Road, London EC2A 3NH. www.nspcc.org.uk
>
> Peter Dale (PhD)
> Hastings, UK