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Child maltreatment: testing the social isolation hypothesis

C Coohey1

  • 1School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago, IL 60637, USA.

Child Abuse & Neglect
|March 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary

Social isolation is complex, involving parent support perception and social networks, not a single cause of child maltreatment. Network variations exist among maltreating mothers, but they may not be truly isolated.

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Area of Science:

  • Social Sciences
  • Psychology
  • Sociology

Background:

  • Child maltreatment is a complex issue with social factors.
  • Defining and measuring social isolation in relation to maltreatment has been challenging.
  • Previous research lacks a clear understanding of the social context surrounding child abuse and neglect.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To clarify the construct of social isolation in the context of child maltreatment.
  • To examine the components of social isolation, including perceived support and network characteristics.
  • To compare the social networks of maltreating and non-maltreating mothers.

Main Methods:

  • A review of the social isolation construct over three decades.
  • Empirical examination of 300 low-income mothers (maltreating and non-maltreating).
  • Comparison of network properties, perceived support, and resource receipt between groups.

Main Results:

  • Social isolation is a set of variables related to perceived support and network characteristics, not a single factor.
  • Significant variations exist in network structure, perceived support, and resources among different types of maltreating mothers.
  • Neglectful mothers exhibited smaller networks, fewer contacts, and received fewer resources.
  • However, all maltreating mothers had substantial network ties and frequent contact, questioning the 'social isolation' label.

Conclusions:

  • The concept of social isolation requires a nuanced understanding, encompassing perceived support and network dynamics.
  • Mothers who engage in child maltreatment do not necessarily fit a profile of complete social isolation.
  • Further research is needed to refine the understanding of social networks and their role in child maltreatment prevention.

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