Abstract
Israel is a “natural laboratory” for studying child abuse due to the low rate of abuse despite high levels of parental stress. This ecological study examined cultural, social and psychological factors in physical abuse. Twenty-five abused Jewish Israeli children aged 1 to 6 years were matched with the same number of non-abused children on age, sex, family size, ethnic background, SES, parent marital status and health. Blind interviews using reliable and valid measures were done separately with mothers and fathers in their homes. Statistical analyses found abusive mothers were twice as depressed as matched mothers (p<.003) on the Beck Depression Inventory.. They provided a less stimulating home environment p<.05) as measured by the HOME, and perceived more stress in their relationship with the target child (p<.056) on the Child Domain of the Parenting Stress Index (PSI). Significant differences were also found on two subscales of the PSI; abusive mothers reported their children as more demanding (p<.026) and less reinforcing (p<.012). No group differences in social support were found on the Interview Schedule for Social Interaction for mothers or fathers. Both groups of parents rejected corporal punishment as a disciplinary method, endorsing, instead, using praise. Thus, although psychological and parent-child interactional factors were found to be similar to those in abusive families in other cultures, Israeli children may be more protected from abuse by the relative lack of social isolation and by cultural norms against corporal punishment.
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Seagull, E., Sagi, A., Jaffe, M. et al. ECOLOGICAL FACTORS IN PHYSICAL CHILD ABUSE IN ISRAEL. Pediatr Res 21 (Suppl 4), 184 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00107
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00107