Stress, Social Support, and Abuse and Neglect in High Risk Infants

摘要

The study tested an ecological model of abuse and neglect in a cohort of infants judged to be at risk for maltreatment. In contrast to models which have relied upon single-factor theories classifiable as psychological, sociological, or sociocultural, this model integrated previously described risk factors with the role of stress as a precipitating agent and the role of social support as a mediating agent. Mothers were interviewed between four and eight weeks after their infants were born, and again when their infants reached their first birthdays. Tracking for abuse and neglect was done by consultation of state records. Study results suggest that the ecological model does indeed contribute to the understanding of the etiology of neglect in the first year of life in a predominantly low-income population (no cases of abuse occurred in the study). The model permits a theoretical basis for primary prevention of child abuse and neglect.