Parent gender as a moderator: The relationships between social support, collective efficacy, and child physical abuse in a community sample

Date

2015

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Child Maltreatment

Abstract

Social support and collective efficacy are related to child physical abuse. However, little is known about whether these relationships differ for women and men, although mothers and fathers differ in the quantity and quality of time spent with children. This study examined whether the relationship between social support, collective efficacy, and physical abuse is stronger for mothers than fathers. Telephone interviews were conducted with parent respondents in 50 California cities (n=3,023). Data were analyzed via overdispersed multilevel Poisson models. Results suggest that high levels of emotional support were inversely associated with physical abuse for women and men, although this effect was stronger for women. High levels of companionship support were positively associated with physical abuse for women; however the opposite was true for men. There were no significant interactions between collective efficacy variables and gender. The relationships between some types of social support and physical abuse appear to vary for men and women suggesting possibilities for more targeted intervention. (Author Abstract)

Description

Keywords

child abuse, risk factors, parenting, research

Citation

Wolf, J. P. (2015). Parent gender as a moderator: The relationships between social support, collective efficacy, and child physical abuse in a community sample. Child maltreatment, 20(2), 125-135.

DOI