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ERIC Number: EJ842980
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Jun
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0145-2134
EISSN: N/A
Predicting Child Maltreatment among Puerto Rican Children from Migrant and Non-Migrant Families
Sledjeski, Eve M.; Dierker, Lisa C.; Bird, Hector R.; Canino, Glorisa
Child Abuse & Neglect: The International Journal, v33 n6 p382-392 Jun 2009
Objectives: The objectives of the present study were to (1) describe the prevalence of child maltreatment among migrant and non-migrant Puerto Rican families and (2) identify socio-demographic and cultural (i.e., acculturation pattern, familismo) predictors of maltreatment within these two samples. Method: Representative community samples of Puerto Rican children (ages 5-13 at baseline) and their adult caretakers were interviewed at two sites: the South Bronx in New York City (n = 631 families) and the Standard Metropolitan Areas of San Juan and Caguas in Puerto Rico (n = 859 families). Participants were re-interviewed 1 and 2 years following the baseline assessment. Results: While prevalence rates of maltreatment (physical abuse, 10%; sexual abuse 1%; neglect, 10%; and multi-type, 6%) did not differ between the two sites at baseline assessment, site differences emerged over time. Rates of physical abuse at follow-up were significantly higher in the Bronx compared to Puerto Rico. Further, for families living in the Bronx, living in poverty predicted "chronic" maltreatment, whereas living above the poverty line predicted "new cases" of maltreatment at follow-up. For families living in Puerto Rico, those who experienced physical abuse or multi-type maltreatment at baseline were more likely to report chronic maltreatment at follow-up regardless of poverty level. Cultural factors were not related to baseline or follow-up maltreatment at either site. Conclusion: Findings suggest that while rates of child maltreatment may be similar in migrant and non-migrant Puerto Rican families and when compared to prevalence rates in the US, predictors of maltreatment may differ. Practice implications: Since predictors of maltreatment may vary across population subgroups, studying homogenous samples will lead to more effective and targeted interventions. (Contains 2 tables.)
Elsevier. 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, FL 32887-4800. Tel: 877-839-7126; Tel: 407-345-4020; Fax: 407-363-1354; e-mail: usjcs@elsevier.com; Web site: http://www.elsevier.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: New York; Puerto Rico
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A