Abstract

BAZON, Marina Rezende; MELLO, Ida Leyda Martínez Avila de; BERGAMO, Lílian Paula D  and  FALEIROS, Juliana Martins. Child neglect: a comparative study of socioeconomic level, parental stress and social support. Temas psicol. [online]. 2010, vol.18, n.1, pp. 71-84. ISSN 1413-389X.

Although child neglect is one of the most prevalent modalities of maltreatment, it is the least investigated modality. The present study aims to contribute to a better characterization and comprehension of child neglect, targeting parents who were reported for negligent behavior to protection agencies. These parents (n = 30) were compared to a reference group (n = 30) with no history of maltreatment, but appropriately paired to the former group by socio-demographic variables. Participants answered a socio-demographic and economic questionnaire, as well as another instrument concerning their network and the perceived social support and parental stress scale. The data were statistically treated and indicated that negligent parents lived in more adverse material conditions and suffered more stress than the reference group. It is seems to be associated with negative perceived parental role in terms of subjective needs, and to perceiving themselves with inadequate socially supported, especially by their extended families. Overall, these features seem to contribute to the increased risk of neglect.

Keywords : Domestic Violence; Child Maltreatment; Neglect; Stress; Social Support.

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