Public perceptions of child abuse and neglect in a midwestern urban community

This study found that the majority of urban adults did not believe that any of the characteristics of children posed to them predisposed a child to ab use. In contrast, 40% of respondents claimed child abuse could not occur in a family like the one in which they grew up. The majority perceived only o ne characteristic, alcohol abuse, as a characteristic of child abusers. Few respondents (10%) believed that child abusers could not be helped, and 25% were not sure. Adults' perceptions of child abuse and abusers varied by se x, age, socioeconomic status, and whether the respondents had children. The data indicate that there are significant deficits in the respondents' know ledge of child abuse and neglect.