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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Children's Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 April 2023) | Viewed by 34457

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Eija Paavilainen

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Social Sciences, Health Sciences, Tampere University, 33014 Tampere, Finland
Interests: child maltreatment prevention; risks; child and family services; health, welfare of children

Dr. Noora Ellonen

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Social Sciences, Social Sciences, Tampere University, 33014 Tampere, Finland
Interests: violence against children; child maltreatment; criminal investigation of child abuse; prevention of child maltreatment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Child maltreatment in its different forms (physical, emotional, sexual, corporal punishment, witnessing violence between family members) is a global public health issue, causing suffering and manifold health problems and intergenerational transmission. Globally, at least one billion children experienced violence in the past 12 months (Hillis et al. 2016). The risk and protective factors, impact, and identification of as well as intervention in child maltreatment have been subject to extensive study. However, the research is quite fragmented and has yet to attain an integrated and theoretically articulated framework, resulting in very little success in the prevention of child maltreatment. Child maltreatment and violence towards children are also concepts which are defined and used in different ways by researchers and professionals in different fields.

In this Special Issue, we hope to publish high-level articles on child maltreatment: prevention, risks, identification, intervention, conceptual issues, etc., in order to build the empirically driven framework of the research area further. We hope to present analysis based on novel research designs and advanced research methods in producing new information on child maltreatment. New research papers, reviews, case reports, methodological papers, and brief reports are welcome to this Issue. We hope to receive manuscripts from different disciplines, aiming to gain a deeper understanding of the complex issue of child maltreatment, and to promote its prevention.

Prof. Dr. Eija Paavilainen
Dr. Noora Ellonen
Guest Editors

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Keywords

child maltreatment
violence towards children
risk
adverse childhood experience
inter-generational
family
parents
prevention

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 322 KiB

Open AccessArticle

“The Feeling Is What Counts”: Fathers’ Perspectives on Child Risk and Protection within the Ultra-Orthodox Context

by Netanel Gemara

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(5), 4385; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054385 - 1 Mar 2023

Viewed by 1597

Abstract

Context is known to have substantial influence on issues pertaining to child development. Nevertheless, the field of child well-being, risk, and protection is rooted in Western modernized research and experience, often overlooking contextual dissimilarity. The present study aimed to explore risk and protection for children in a distinct context: the Ultra-Orthodox community, which is an insular and religiously close-knit society. Fifteen in-depth interviews with Ultra-Orthodox fathers dealing with issues of child risk and protection were conducted and thematically analyzed. Analysis of the findings revealed two major areas that fathers viewed as posing potential risk for children: poverty and a lack of paternal presence. In both cases, the fathers emphasized that appropriate mediation of these circumstances can diffuse their potential harm. The discussion outlines the different ways fathers proposed mediating potential risk situations, highlighting distinct religion-related methods. It then considers specific, context-informed ramifications and recommendations and notes limitations and directions for future study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Child Maltreatment and Well-Being)

15 pages, 390 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Homotypical and Heterotypical Intergenerational Continuity of Child Maltreatment: Evidence from a Cohort of Families Involved with Child Protection Services

by Rachel Langevin, Audrey Kern, Tonino Esposito and Sonia Hélie

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(5), 4151; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054151 - 25 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2322

Abstract

Child maltreatment (CM) in one generation can predict CM in the next generation, a concept known as intergenerational continuity. Yet, the form taken by the intergenerational continuity of CM remains unclear and fathers are mostly absent from this literature. This longitudinal study aimed to document patterns of intergenerational continuity of substantiated CM, on the maternal and paternal sides, by examining the presence of: homotypical CM, which is the same type of CM in both generations; and heterotypical CM, which is different CM types in both generations. The study included all children substantiated for CM with the Centre Jeunesse de Montréal between 1 January 2003, and 31 December 2020, with at least one parent who was also reported to that agency during their childhood (n = 5861 children). The cohort was extracted using clinical administrative data, and logistic regression models were tested with the children’s CM types as the dependent variables. Homotypical continuity was found for: (1) physical abuse on the paternal side; (2) sexual abuse on the maternal side; and (3) exposure to domestic violence on the maternal side. Heterotypical continuity was also prevalent, but to a lesser extent. Interventions helping maltreated parents overcome their traumatic past are essential to foster intergenerational resilience. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Child Maltreatment and Well-Being)

10 pages, 332 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adverse Childhood Experiences, Resilience, and Emotional Problems in Young Chinese Children

by Yantong Zhu, Gengli Zhang and Tokie Anme

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 3028; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043028 - 9 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3053

Abstract

Resilience plays an important role in the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and children’s health. Young children are often neglected in ACEs research and suffer from the negative consequences of ACEs. However, few studies have focused on the relationship between ACEs and emotional problems in young Chinese children and the moderating and mediating effect of resilience on this relationship. This study included young children at the beginning of their kindergarten year (n = 874, 42.80 ± 4.09 months) from Wuhu City, China, to examine the mediation and moderation effects of resilience on early-life ACEs and emotional problems. Our results show a positive direct effect of ACEs on emotional problems. Furthermore, a positive indirect effect of ACEs and emotional problems on resilience was found. A moderating effect of resilience was not observed in this study. Our findings (a) highlight the significance of paying more attention to early ACEs and revealing a better understanding of the effect of resilience on ACEs at an early age and (b) indicate that age-specific interventions should be provided to enhance young children’s resilience when exposed to adversity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Child Maltreatment and Well-Being)

15 pages, 1099 KiB

Open AccessArticle

School Nurse Perspectives of Working with Children and Young People in the United Kingdom during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Online Survey Study

by Dana Sammut, Georgia Cook, Julie Taylor, Tikki Harrold, Jane Appleton and Sarah Bekaert

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(1), 481; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010481 - 28 Dec 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4885

Abstract

School nurses are public health specialists with an integral role in the safeguarding of children and young people. This study gathered information about school nurses’ approaches to overcome practice restrictions as a result of COVID-19. A cross-sectional survey was administered to school nurses across the United Kingdom. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively. Qualitative data (free-text responses to open-ended questions) were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Seventy-eight participant responses were included in the analysis. Quantitative data highlighted increased workloads; decreased contact with service users; and difficulties in identifying safeguarding needs and working with known vulnerable children. Through qualitative data analysis, five themes were identified: a move from preventive to reactive school nursing; professional challenges of safeguarding in the digital context; the changing nature of inter-professional working; an increasing workload; and reduced visibility and representation of the child. The findings call for advocacy by policymakers and professional organisations representing school nurses to enable this professional group to lead in the evolving public health landscape; for commissioning that recognises the school nurse as a specialist public health practitioner; and for sufficient numbers of school nurses to respond to the emergent and ongoing health needs of children and young people. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Child Maltreatment and Well-Being)

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21 pages, 434 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Safeguarding Children Subjected to Violence in the Family: Child-Centered Risk Assessments

by Maria Eriksson, Anders G. Broberg, Ole Hultmann, Emma Chawinga and Ulf Axberg

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(21), 13779; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192113779 - 23 Oct 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4384

Abstract

Assessing risk, planning for safety and security, and aiding recovery for children subjected to violence in a family setting is a complex process. The aim of the article is to synthesize the current research literature about risks for children subjected to violence in the family and outline an empirical base for a holistic and practically usable model of risk assessments placing the individual child at the center. Such assessments need to recognize four different areas of risk: (1) child safety, i.e., known risk factors for severe and dangerous violence aimed at both adults and children and how they play out in the individual case; (2) the child’s response in situations with violence; (3) the child’s perspective, especially fear and feelings of powerlessness in situations with violence; (4) developmental risks, e.g., instability in the child’s situation and care arrangements, lack of a carer/parent as a “secure base” and “safe haven”, the child developing difficulties due to the violence (e.g., PTSD), problems in parents’ caring capacities in relation to a child with experiences of, and reactions to, violence, and lack of opportunities for the child to make sense of, and create meaning in relation to, experiences of violence. In addition to the four areas of risk, the article emphasizes the importance of assessing the need for immediate intervention and safety planning in the current situation as regards safety, the child’s responses, the child’s perspectives, and long-term developmental risks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Child Maltreatment and Well-Being)

11 pages, 965 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Health Promotion Actions and School Violence—A Cluster Analysis from Finnish Comprehensive Schools

by Noora Ellonen, Miko Pasanen, Kirsi Wiss, Laura Mielityinen, Elina Lähteenmäki and Katja Joronen

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(19), 12698; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912698 - 4 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1879

Abstract

(1) Schools have a significant role in violence prevention activities. This study aimed to first identify profiles of Finnish comprehensive schools based on school violence. The second aim was to examine the associations between profiles concerning health promotion actions, reactive or punitive actions, and school characteristics. (2) The study used the large-scale, nationally representative Benchmarking System of Health Promotion Capacity-Building (BSHPCB) data (n = 2057 schools) completed by the school’s principal together with a student welfare team. The data was analyzed by cluster analysis and Chi-squared and Kruskal–Wallis tests. For post hoc testing, Fisher’s exact test with odds ratios and Mann–Whitney U-test were used. (3) The cluster analysis yielded five profiles of school violence: “No violence”, “Adolescent violence” (violence both among pupils and from pupils towards staff, but not inappropriate behavior from school staff towards pupils), “Not known” (principals either did not respond to these questions or they did not know whether there had been any school violence incidents), “Peer violence” (school violence occurred among pupils but not from pupils towards staff, nor inappropriate behavior from school staff towards pupils), and “All violence” (all types of school violence and inappropriate behavior from school staff towards pupils). These clusters differed according to type of school and municipality. Additionally, both management and monitoring as health promotion actions were related to higher incidence of school violence whereas other actions, such as commitment, resources, common practices, and participation were not related to school violence. (4) The findings of this study indicate that schools have different profiles in terms of school violence and providing evidence and guidance for school violence prevention work. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Child Maltreatment and Well-Being)

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15 pages, 384 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Does Trauma Exacerbate Criminal Behavior? An Exploratory Study of Child Maltreatment and Chronic Offending in a Sample of Chinese Juvenile Offenders

by Xuening Yao, Hongwei Zhang and Ruohui Zhao

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(18), 11197; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811197 - 6 Sep 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3418

Abstract

(1) Background: Maltreated children are at increased risk for juvenile delinquency. Extant research has explored the effect of child maltreatment on either the initial risk of juvenile delinquency or general juvenile recidivism. However, little is known regarding the effect of child maltreatment on chronic offending. (2) Methods: Using a sample of 695 male juvenile offenders incarcerated in a centralized juvenile reformatory of the province X located in Southwest China, this study investigates both the prevalence of child maltreatment and the effect of child maltreatment on chronic offending among the juvenile offenders. Descriptive statistical analyses and multinomial logistic regression were utilized to conduct the analyses. (3) Results: A vast majority of the juvenile offenders experienced at least one type of child maltreatment. Moreover, maltreatment was generally found to be more prevalent in chronic offenders than in one-time offenders and recidivists. Results from a series of logistic regression analyses revealed that among five specific maltreatment types, only physical abuse exerted a statistically significant and positive impact on chronic offending. (4) Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of providing early prevention and intervention programs to juvenile offenders who were physically abused in order to reduce general chronic offending as well as chronic violent offending. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Child Maltreatment and Well-Being)

15 pages, 370 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Aspects of Gender and Sexuality in Relation to Experiences of Subjection to Sexual Harassment among Adolescents in General Population

by Riittakerttu Kaltiala

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(16), 9811; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19169811 - 9 Aug 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2468

Abstract

Subjection to sexual harassment (SH) has been reported more commonly by girls than by boys, by sexual and gender minority youth more than by mainstream youth, and by sexually active youth more than by those not yet experienced in romantic and erotic encounters. However, the research so far has not addressed these correlates simultaneously. This study aimed to explore independent associations between experiencing SH and these aspects of sex, gender and sexuality—considering all of them concurrently. A cross sectional survey with data from Finland was used, with an analyzable sample of 71,964 adolescents aged 14 to 16-years- of age, collected in 2017. The data were analysed using cross-tabulations with chi-square statistics and logistic regression analyses. The types of SH studied were gender harassment, unwelcome sexual attention, and sexual coercion. Girls, sexual and gender minority youth, and youth engaging in romantic and erotic encounters had experienced all three types of SH more commonly than boys, mainstream youth and those not sexually active. Associations between minority status and experiences of sexual harassment were stronger among boys, and being sexually active had stronger associations with subjection to sexual harassment in girls. The findings appear to support the assumption that sexual harassment serves both as a means of perpetuating heteronormativity and the sexual double standard. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Child Maltreatment and Well-Being)

19 pages, 464 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Family Needs Checklist: Development of a Mobile Application for Parents with Children to Assess the Risk for Child Maltreatment

by Heidi Rantanen, Irja Nieminen, Marja Kaunonen, Emmanuelle Jouet, Lidia Zabłocka-Żytka, Giovanni Viganò, Cristina Crocamo, Henrike Schecke, Giedre Zlatkute and Eija Paavilainen

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(16), 9810; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19169810 - 9 Aug 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2906

Abstract

Child maltreatment (CM) has been enormously studied. However, a preventive practice still requires comprehensive and effective instruments to assess the risks for CM in a family context. The aim of this study is to describe the development process of an evidence-based CM risk assessment instrument (Family Needs Checklist, FNC) for primary prevention online utilization. This article reports the development process of the checklist and its mobile application, consisting of a systematic literature review, identification of known risk factors using the content analysis method, and generation of the checklist, including a multidisciplinary group in the design and feedback. As a result, a comprehensive and compact checklist was developed to be used by parents or caregivers as a self-referral instrument with an option to be used with professionals as a basis for joint conversations. The FNC consists of parental, family-, and child-related risk factors. Based on the international evidence, the online application consists of knowledge about different CM types, information about risk factors and protective factors as well as recommendations and guidance to support services. The FNC is based on robust evidence on known risk factors causing CM in families. It can be used for primary prevention utilization in the general population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Child Maltreatment and Well-Being)

17 pages, 2107 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Typology and Topography of Child Abuse and Neglect: The Experience of a Tertiary Children’s Centre

by Geoff Debelle, Nikolaos Efstathiou, Rafiyah Khan, Annette Williamson, Manjit Summan and Julie Taylor

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(13), 8213; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19138213 - 5 Jul 2022

Viewed by 2359

Abstract

Effective child protection systems and processes require reliable and accurate data. The aim of this study was to determine what data could be extracted from hospital records in a single site that reflected a child’s journey from admission with suspected abuse to the decisions regarding substantiation made by the multidisciplinary child protection team. A retrospective study of the case records of 452 children referred to a major UK children’s tertiary centre for suspected child maltreatment was undertaken. Child maltreatment was substantiated in 65% of referred cases, with the majority of referrals coming from children living in the most deprived neighbourhoods in the country. Domestic violence and abuse and the child’s previous involvement with statutory bodies were associated with case substantiation. Physical abuse predominated, with soft tissue injuries, including dog bites and burns, most frequent. Burns were related almost exclusively to supervisory neglect. There were also cases of medical neglect. Emotional abuse was associated with exposure to domestic violence and abuse and to self-harm. The strengths and limitations for single-centre data systems were explored, concluding with a recommendation to establish an agreed national and international minimum data set to protect children from maltreatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Child Maltreatment and Well-Being)

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12 pages, 972 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Validity and Reliability of the Malay Version of the Cyberbullying Scale among Secondary School Adolescents in Malaysia

by Zaitun Mohd Saman, Ab Hamid Siti-Azrin, Azizah Othman and Yee Cheng Kueh

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(21), 11669; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111669 - 6 Nov 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3827

Abstract

The effect of cyberbullying among adolescents in Malaysia is not much studied. The Cyberbullying Scale (CBS) has been validated to be used among English speaking adolescents to measure cyberbullying but not in Malay language. Therefore, its validity should be established before use in the Malaysian context. Thus, the study aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Malay version of the CBS (CBS-M) among secondary school students. The study was cross-sectional and involved a self-administered questionnaire with 16 items from CBS-M, and 21 items from the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Participants were recruited using a multi-stage sampling method. The validity of the CBS-M was tested in two phases, namely, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Spearman’s correlation was used to examine the strength of the relationship between the CBS and subscales from DASS-21 to further support the validity of CBS-M. A total of 401 respondents from Muar, Johor, participated. The mean age was 14.6 years (SD = 1.25). EFA results indicated a one-factor model of CBS-M with a total variance extracted of 33.9%. Internal consistency measured by Cronbach’s alpha reached 0.87. The model was then tested using CFA. The initial model did not fit the data well. Thus, several model re-specifications were conducted on the initial model. The final measurement model of CBS-M fit the data well with acceptable fit indices (CFI = 0.946, TLI = 0.932, SRMR = 0.055, RMSEA = 0.049). The composite reliability for CBS-M was satisfactory with a value of 0.832. The CBS-M questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool for measuring cyberbullying among young adolescents in Malaysia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Child Maltreatment and Well-Being)

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