New UK abuse prevalence study

Material below is from press releases re new NSPCC UK prevalence study published 19th November 2000

NSPCC REPORT SHATTERS CHILD ABUSE MYTHS

Common stereotypes about child abuse are overturned in the National Society for the prevention of Cruelty to Children's (NSPCC) largest ever study of child maltreatment.

Myth: the most common form of abuse suffered by children at home is sexual abuse. Fact: children are seven times more likely to be beaten badly by their parents than sexually abused by them.

Myth: most sexual abuse occurs between fathers and their daughters. Fact: this type of incestuous relationship is rare, occurring in less than four in a thousand cases. The most likely relative to abuse within the family is a brother or stepbrother.

Myth: adults are responsible for most sexual violence against children and young people outside the family. Fact: children are most likely to be forced into unwanted sexual activity by other young people, must usually from someone described as a 'boyfriend.' Less than three in a thousand of the young people reported sexual behaviour against their wishes with professionals working with children.

Myth: sexual attacks on children from strangers are common. Fact: sexual assaults involving contact by strangers are very rare. Even with indecent exposure, only seven per cent of the young people reported ever having been 'flashed at', and just over a third of these said the person was a stranger.

Myth: most physical abuse is carried out by men, especially fathers. Fact: violent acts towards children are more likely to be meted out by mothers than fathers (49% of the sample experienced this from mothers and 40% from fathers).

SUMMARY OF RESEARCH FINDINGS

Child Maltreatment in the United Kingdom is the most authoritative survey of child maltreatment, abuse and neglect yet undertaken in the UK. The study is based on 'random-probability' interviews with 2,869 young people aged 18-24 conducted by survey research company BMRB International between September 1998 and February 1999.

For ethical and practical reasons, it would have been wrong to interview children on this subject in this type of survey. So the study is based on interviews with young people aged 18 - 24 conducted by survey research company BMRB International between September 1998 and February 1999.

This is the only UK study, and one of the few world wide, to examine maltreatment comprehensively, in a large random probability sample of the general population. The 2,869 young people, aged 18-24 years were interviewed using Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) and able to enter their answers directly to ensure confidentiality. They were contacted through addresses taken randomly from the Postcode Address File, the method used in all major national surveys.

The interviews covered broad aspects of childhood experience, including aspects of family life, social relationships, perspectives on child abuse and experience of abuse and neglect in the family and other contexts. The sample was drawn from all parts of the UK. Most (56 per cent) were still living with their parents. Another 18 per cent were living with partners, while 8 per cent lived alone and 15 per cent had their own children.

The interview questions did not define abuse or neglect but asked the young people if they had experienced a range of treatments, some positive and some negative, as children. Respondents who indicated possible childhood abuse or neglect were asked more detailed questions about their experiences. The survey achieved a response rate of 69 per cent which is unusually high for surveys on this topic. Almost all (98%) of the respondents felt the survey was worthwhile and 85 per cent said that they would definitely be willing to take part in further NSPCC research.

More than nine out of ten of young people interviewed said they grew up in warm and loving families. But one in three respondents also reported that there was sometimes 'a lot of stress' in their families. The same proportion reported financial pressures and worries. More than a quarter said "there are things that happened in my childhood that I find hard to talk about".

Children from all social backgrounds suffer abuse and maltreatment. But the survey found strong links between serious physical abuse or neglect and the current socio-economic grade of the respondent, reflecting both aspects of their social background and the damaging effect that adverse childhood experience has on educational and other life chances.

Physical violence against children in the UK is primarily a family affair. Seven per cent of the young people suffered serious physical abuse at the hands of parents and carers, including being hit with a fist or an implement, beaten up, burned and scalded. Mothers were as likely as fathers to physically abuse their children.

The young people reported that most parents used physical punishment rarely and lightly, but a minority used it regularly and severely. Parents who smacked their children regularly often caused bruising, pain or soreness lasting at least until next day - it seemed that the frequent users of physical punishment were also likely to be the most severe users.

Six per cent of respondents suffered serious absence of physical care at home, including regularly being left without food as a young child, not being looked after or taken to the doctor when ill, or being left to fend for themselves because parents were absent or had drug or alcohol problems.

There had also been serious absence of supervision for some respondents, with one per cent allowed to stay at home alone overnight when they were under 10 and four per cent allowed out overnight with their whereabouts unknown when they were under 14.

Emotional abuse is one of the most hidden and often underestimated forms of child maltreatment. The study found that almost six per cent of respondents had suffered multiple attacks on their well-being within their families. These included, among others, living with frequent violence between their parents, having treasured possessions deliberately destroyed by parents, being regularly humiliated, or being told that their parents wished them dead or never born.

Sexual abuse of children within the family is less common. One per cent of young people were sexually assaulted by a parent or carer. Three per cent of the young people suffered sexual abuse by another relative, ranging from penetrative or oral sex to taking pornographic photographs of them. A wide range of - mainly male - relatives were involved, most often brothers or stepbrothers. Girls were far more likely than boys to experience all forms of sexual abuse.

Sexual violence is more likely to take place outside the family than within it. One in ten young people had experienced penetrative sex, oral sex or attempts at these against their will by people unrelated to them. Nearly all were people known to the child, most commonly 'boyfriends', friends of brothers or sisters, or fellow students.

Many of those who experienced coercive sex acts reported the use of physical force or threat. Girls were far more likely than boys to have experienced coercive sexual activity. Almost one in three young people had never told anyone about their unwanted sexual experiences, and only just over a quarter had sought help at the time.

The only category of unwanted sexual activity experienced to any great extent from strangers (usually men) was indecent exposure. But two per cent of the young people reported sexual abuse involving physical contact by a stranger or someone recently met.

The most common source of distress and misery to children is bullying and discrimination by other young people. 43 per cent of the young people were bullied or discriminated against by other children, and eight per cent said this happened regularly over years. They were bullied mostly because of personal characteristics such as size, dress, race or manner of speech. Name-calling, insults and verbal abuse were most common but 14 to 15 per cent were physically attacked, and many young people also experienced having their property stolen or damaged. The overwhelming number of bullying incidents took place at school.

CONCLUSION

Families are the primary source of love and nurturing for nearly all children. But significant minorities of children are confronted - either occasionally or regularly - by stresses, problems and abusive behaviour with which they should not have to cope.

For many children too, the wider world of school, friends and community is one which is fraught with the threats of bullying, discrimination and - particularly for girls - sexual harassment and violence.

This study underlines the need for children's voices to be heard by the people who can help them. Children need the self-confidence to speak out and someone they trust and in whom they can confide.

Large numbers of children find it too difficult to talk about the abuse and difficulties which they face in their lives. If they do tell someone, it is very unlikely to be a professional concerned with their care. In this way, distressing and harmful childhood experiences can remain hidden for many years.

In terms of severity and frequency, there are different levels of child maltreatment. When children at risk of significant harm are identified, children's services must act quickly and decisively to protect them. And firm action against carers may be appropriate when a child has suffered serious abuse or neglect.

However, not all cruelty to children is planned or intended to cause harm. Our approach to child protection must be a sophisticated one, geared up for preventing child abuse and neglect.

Although children from all social backgrounds can suffer maltreatment, the study found strong links between serious physical abuse or neglect and socio-economic grade. This indicates that children in families facing poverty and social exclusion are particularly vulnerable. If we are serious about reducing the incidence of child cruelty, we must give more support to those families pushed to the limits by extreme stress, medical conditions or socio-economic pressures.

The report is priced £23. Available from NSPCC Publications Unit, 42 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3NH. http://www.nspcc.org.uk