Richard O'Toole

Nurses' Responses to Child Abuse A Factorial Survey

According to interactionist theory, recognition and reporting of child abuse will vary by characteristics of the event, characteristics of the observer, and characteristics of the organization in which the process occurs. To test hypotheses derived from this theory, a factorial survey design was employed. A probability sample of nurses ( N = 1,038) responded to vignettes where case characteristic variables were systematically manipulated. Analysis using ordinary least squares regression showed that case characteristics involving type and level of seriousness of abuse, perpetrator status, and perpetrator psychology had the greatest effects on the average recognition and reporting scores. Victim age and gender had consistently significant but small effects on both recognition and reporting. Perpetrator account had mixed effects on recognition and reporting. The addition of nurse characteristics and organizational characteristics accounted for a small additional amount of the variance.

The meanings of menopause

Multiple meanings have been assigned to menopause and to women experiencing menopause. Meanings are not inherent in reality but are assigned by humans in response to interaction. Once meanings are assigned to entities, they become coercive and influence interactions. Freidsons (1988) theoretical framework includes the imputation of responsibility, legitimacy, and seriousness to a deviance or illness and provides the basis for an analysis of the various meanings of menopause that are found in the literature. This analysis is concerned with the social, political, economic, and health care consequences of the assigned meanings of menopause for women.

Nurses Recognition and Reporting of Child Abuse: A Factorial Survey

According to interaction ist theory, responses of professionals to potential deviance will vary by characteristics of the event, characteristics of the biography and training of the observer, and characteristics of the organization in which the process occurs. Hypotheses concerning recognition and reporting of child abuse were tested using a factorial survey design. A probability sample of nurses (N = 1,038) judged vignettes, in which case characteristic variables were systematically manipulated, and responded to a questionnaire on their background, professional work, and organization. Case characteristics involving type and level of seriousness of abuse, perpetrator status, and perpetrator psychology had the greatest effects on the average recognition and reporting scores, as shown in the analysis using ordinary least squares regression. Contrary to interaction ist predictions, only a small additional amount of the variance was accounted for when the nurses’ characteristics and organizational characteris...

Differentiation of family mistreatment: Similarities and differences by status of the victim

Definitions that emerge when people react to behaviors that can be viewed as mistreatment were compared in a research design that varied the status of the victim: child, elderly parent, husband, or wife. Vignettes developed by Giovannoni and Becerra (1979) were adopted for use in this study by varying reference to the perpetrator and the victim. Factor analysis of the seriousness ratings of the vignettes by a purposive sample of lay respondents, college students (N=214), showed, with minor exceptions, similar definitions for failure to provide, emotional mistreatment, and sexual abuse across the victim groups. Many similarities and differences between victim groups appear related to the dependent status of the victim. Definitions for mistreatment of wives and husbands were alike, but differed from those for children and the elderly.

Book Review : The APSAC Handbook on Child Maltreatment

The publication of this edited book is one aspect of the mission of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC). The association was founded in 1987 to bring together all the professions that respond to child maltreatment. The society is thus made up of social workers, psychologists, nurses, attorneys, physicians, law enforcement officers, protective service administrators, researchers from a variety of academic fields, and other professionals concerned with creating a forum and voice to help children and families. The APSAC