Defining child abuse: Exploring variations in ratings of discipline severity among child welfare practitioners

This study investigated child welfare practitioners' ratings of the severity of parental discipline practices. Ratings varied by the type of act, age of the child, & by chronicity. Exploratory investigation into changes across time found that current practitioners (N = 27) rated several practices (e.g. spanking & shaking) as more severe than did professionals (N = 24) sampled in 1977. Results underscore the complexity of defining child maltreatment & offer implications for practitioners, applied researchers, & child welfare policy makers. Tables, Figures, References. Adapted from the source document.