Family factors in the psychological, social and physical development of a child
Name
DPSY 8573 - Child and Adolescent Health
2022
Family factor
Specific life situations of some families such as marital conflicts, domestic violence,
single parenthood, unemployment, financial stress and social isolation may increase the
likely of maltreatment while these factors by themselves may not cause maltreatment
they frequently contribute to negative patterns of family functions.
1) Family structure
Children leaving with single parents maybe at higher risks of experiencing physical
and sexual abuse and neglect than children leaving with both parents. Single
parenthood is substantially more likely to have incomes below the poverty line. Low
income may be associated with the sole burden of family responsibility and fewer
supports are thought to contribute to the risk of single parent maltreating their
children. In 1998, 23% of children live in households with a single mother and 4%
live in households with a single father a strong positive relationship between a child
and father water he recites in the home or not contributes to the child’s development
and may lease the risk of abuse.
2) The child abuse and father absence connection
The rate of child abuse in single parent holds is 23.3chidren per 1000 which is nearly
twice the rate of child abuse in two parent households (15.5 children per 1000) an
analysis of child abuse in national representative council of 42 counties found out that
children from single parent family are more likely to be victims of physical and
sexual abuse than children who live with two biological parents. Compared to other
peers living with both parents.
77% greater risk of being physically abused
87% greater risk of being harmed by physical neglect
165% greater risk of experiencing notable physical neglect
74% greater risk of suffering from emotional effects
80% greater risk of suffering serious injury as a result of abuse
120% greater risks of experiencing some type of maltreatment
The study of 156 victims of child sexual abuse found that the majority of the children came from
disrupted or single parent homes only 31% of the children lived with both biological parents.
3) Marital conflicts and domestic violence
According to published studies in 30-60% of families spouse abuse takes place child
maltreatment also occurs children in violent homes may witness potential, may be victim of
physical abuse themselves and may be neglected by parents who are focused on this partners
unresponsive to this children due to their own fears. A child who witnesses parental violence is
at risk for also being maltreated but even if the child is not maltreated he or she may experience
harmful emotional consequences from witnessing the parental violence.
4) Stress
Stress is also thought to play a significant role in family functioning although its exact
relationship with maltreatment is not fully understood, physically abuse has been associated with
stress full life, parenting stress and emotional distress in various studies, similarly some studies
have found that neglectful families its not clear whether maltreatment parents actually experience
more life stress or rather perceive more events and life stressful. in addition specific stressful
situation e.g. losing a job, physical illness marital problem or death of a family member may
excavated certain characteristics of family members affected such as hostility, anxiety,
depression and that may also exaggerate the level of family conflicts and maltreatment.
5) Parent child interaction
Families’ involved in child maltreatment seldom recognizes or rewards their child’s positive
behavior, while having strong responses to their childes negative behaviors. Maltreating parents
have been found to be less supportive, affectionate, playful and responsive with their own
children than parents who do not abuse their children. Research on maltreatments physically
abusive mothers, found that these parents were more likely to use harsh discipline strategies (e.g.
using timeouts reasoning and recognizing and encouraging the child’s success
References
Laura E. Berk (2012). Infants and children: Prenatal through middle childhood (7
ed.). Allyn & Bacon.
Hill, G. (2001). A Level Psychology Through Diagrams. Oxford University Press.
ISBN 0199180946
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The Ecology of Human Development: Experiments by
Nature and Design. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. (ISBN 0-674-22457-
4)
Myers, D. (2008). Exploring Psychology. Worth Publishers. ISBN 1572590963.
A Longitudinal Study of Early Literacy Development and the Changing Perceptions
of Parents and Teachers, Dr John Worthington, 2001
