Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-120).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Rutgers University, 2008. / "Graduate Program in Social Work." Includes bibliographical references (p. 195-202).

Thesis (M.A.)--West Virginia University, 2005. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 72 p. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 42-46).

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-120) Also available in print.

The purposes of this study were to determine if there are differences between the responses of abusive and nonabusive adults to potentially anger-provoking child behaviors; if there are differences between abusive and nonabusive adults; if there are differences between the children of abusive and nonabusive adults; and if there are combinations of these characteristics of the adults and characteristics of children as well as the behaviors of children which relate to child abusiveness in adults. The basic problem was to determine factors that help identify potentially child abusive adults. Certain factors, such as the limited size of the sample and the initial use of a new instrument, served as limitations to broad generalizations. However, based on the analysis of the data of this study, the following conclusions seem tenable 1. Certain behaviors of children are more upsetting to abusive adults than to nonabusive adults. 2. Characteristics of adults are not necessarily related to child abusiveness in adults. 3. The age of the child and the number of children living in the home are significantly related to child abusiveness in adults. 4. The findings indicate that a predictive model may be developed in conjunction with the Child Behavior Inventory for use in predicting child abusiveness in adults.

M.A. / This study originated from the researcher's interest in the affect of childhood emotional abuse on the adult. From practice experience there seemed to be a relationship between adult clients' current dysfunctional behavioural patterns and relationships and their experience of emotional abuse as a child. This research investigation aimed at detecting and exploring childhood experiences of emotional abuse in adult respondents. The various aspects of the adults' life that were affected by the experiences of childhood emotional abuse were explored and a theoretically discussion of this phenomenon was presented as an explanation for adult dysfunction. A qualitative research methodology was utilised to explore the diverse recollections of childhood experiences and their current functioning among the respondents. This choice of methodology was applied due to the exploratory aim of the study and its objectives: i.e. to capture the lived experiences of the respondents. The researcher utilized an entire adult caseload consulted during the period of March 2000 to July 2001, as respondents for the study. Data was collected by means of in-depth, face-to-face interviews conducted with respondents. An interview schedule was used for this purpose. A second data-collection method was used. This was done by the interpretation of visual representations obtained during interviews. Data analysis was done according to coding schedules that were generated by the utilization of a computer programme for the analysis of qualitative research data. From this process of data coding central categories and sub-categories were identified. These categories and subcategories were discussed as the themes and sub-themes from the study. These themes were presented as the results ofthe study.

The Rosebush Visualization Technique (RVT) (Allan & Crandall,1986) a projective art technique, and Q sort Methodology were combined in an experiment to test their usefulness in assessing sexual, physical and emotional abuse. Forty two children between the ages of 8 and 13 inclusive were selected from four groups; the sexually abused with a mean age of 9.5, physically abused with a mean age of 10.75, emotionally neglected with a mean age of 9.0; and children who had suffered neither abuse nor neglect with a mean age of 9.7. In accordance with the RVT, the subjects were instructed to take a minute or two to imagine themselves as a rosebush. Each child then inspected 24 drawings of rosebushes selected from a previous study using the RVT and representing a range of trauma from no known trauma to severe trauma, from amongst the four groups. Each child then selected and ordered the 24 drawings into those rosebushes that were most and least like their own visualizations. Each child subsequently developed a Q-sort of the 24 drawings that was analyzed by both Q-sort methodology and analysis of variance techniques. The results indicated that the Q-sort analyses did not support the hypotheses that traumatized children would select drawings completed by similarly traumatized children. However, a follow up repeated measures analysis of variance indicated a significant joint group x picture effect at the .05 level of significance. A study of these joint effects indicated that the two different groups, traumatized and nontraumatized, did in fact differentially identify some of the pictures, but not on the basis expected. This finding provides support for the hypothesis that children's preference for a set of pictures reflects their own background of abuse or non abuse. The implications of this finding for clinical practice and research are discussed. / Education, Faculty of / Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of / Graduate

No description available.

This study explored the attitudes of four professional groups toward selected adult behaviors in order to gain an insight into their definitions of abuse and neglect. A sample was drawn from the population of pediatricians, psychologists, teachers, and social workers employed in a large metropolitan area of North Central Texas. A total of 190 subjects participated. The instrument used to quantify the attitudes of the respondents was a five-point rating scale, the ABTC Rating Scale. The rating scale was composed of thirty-six adult behaviors selected from the "gray areas" of child abuse and neglect. Participants rated the thirty-six behavior items according to how harmful they perceived each behavior to be for a five-to-six year old child. It was concluded that of the variables tested, those that appear to have the most influence on the differences in responses are professional membership and sex. It is possible that the differences found are due as much to the sex of the respondent as to professional membership. Teachers and females may react more strongly to the behaviors almost universally.

No description available.