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[Conceptual models of child mistreatment: a biopsychosocial approach]
J M Morales1, V Zunzunegui Pastor, V Martínez Salceda
1Area de Investigación, Ministerio de Trabajo y Asuntos Sociales, Madrid.
Introduction:
Currently, the concept of child maltreatment extends over any dysfunction in the parent-child relationship, including in its diagnosis all different forms in which parental dysfunction takes place (from the classic child abuse to subtle types of psychological maltreatment).
Methodology:
Review of original articles of Child Abuse and Neglect in 1991-1996, and of other articles cited in this period in that journal. Search of documents in the Spanish literature on this topic.
Results:
Several studies carried out in Spain have shown a prevalence rate of 1.5%, although it is widely recognized that this figure is an underestimate. The view of child maltreatment as a psychosocial phenomenon which causes severe consequences in the child's integrated development, has produced conceptual models which explore the relationships among risk and protective factors involved in the occurrence of child maltreatment. The main risk factors are younger parents, anxiety and depression symptoms, monoparental family, and economic stress. Social support has a protective effect.
Conclusion:
A better understanding of the dynamics of protective and risk factors for child abuse is needed in order to carry out effective interventions in prevention and intervention programs against child maltreatment.