Defining Child Maltreatment

Portwood, S. “The Impact of Individuals’ Characteristics and Experiences on Their Definitions Of Child Maltreatment.” Child Abuse & Neglect Vol. 22, No. 5 (1998): 437-452. This article focused on a study done by Portwood to try and identify and determine what constitutes child abuse and or neglect. The current state of definitions presents a dilemma not only to researchers attempting to elucidate the dynamics of child maltreatment, but also to a variety of professionals involved in the identification, assessment, …

…certain behavior as abusive. The second hypothesis was retained in part and rejected in part. While there is some indication that an increase in parenting experience is related to a reduced likelihood of rating acts as “neglect,” an increase in parenting experience may actually increase individuals’ views of the seriousness of sexual abuse. Bibliography Portwood, S. “The Impact of Individuals’ Characteristics and Experiences on Their Definitions Of Child Maltreatment.” Child Abuse & Neglect Vol. 22, No. 5 (1998): 437-452.