Violence towards children in the United States and Sweden

This paper reports the results of a cross-cultural comparison of violence towards children in the United States and Sweden. Data from the United States are based on interviews with a nationally representative sample of 1,146 households with at least one child between the ages of 3 and 17 years living at home. Data from Sweden are based on interviews with a nationally representative sample of 1,168 households with a child 3 to 17 years of age at home. Violence and abuse were measured using the Conflict Tactics Scales. In general, Swedish parents reported using less violence than did parents in the United States. There was no significant difference between the two countries in the rate of reported severe or abusive violence. The paper compares factors found associated with violence towards children in the two countries, including age, marital status, education, and parents' background. The results are analyzed by considering methodological and cultural factors that explain the similarities and differences in the use of violence towards children in the two countries.