title: General population norms about child abuse and neglect and associations with childhood experiences.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A variety of definitions of child abuse and neglect exist. However, little is known about norms in the general population as to what constitutes child abuse and neglect or how perceived norms may be related to personal experiences.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a random-digit-dialed telephone survey of 504 Washington State adults. Respondents were asked whether they believed each of 34 behaviors, identified in focus groups as possibly physically, sexually or emotionally abusive or neglectful, constituted abuse or neglect. Then, they were asked whether they had experienced 33 of the behaviors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five of the six behaviors with the highest levels of consensus were for sexual abuse, whereas only one emotionally abusive behavior had a high level of consensus (95% agreement). Consensus that spanking constituted abuse increased with severity. Those respondents who reported experiencing a particular behavior were significantly less likely to believe the behavior abusive for 11 of the 33 behaviors and more likely to believe the behavior abusive for two of the behaviors. Where comparisons were possible, there was a high level of consensus that behaviors identified as abusive in Child Protective Service operational definitions constituted abuse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-reported childhood experiences were associated with perceived norms about child abuse. A better understanding of community norms about child abuse and neglect may be helpful in communicating with the public or allow for better targeting of educational messages through the media, parenting education classes, and so forth.
authors.affiliation: Office of Epidemiology, Washington State Department of Health, Olympia, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Lillian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bensley
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ruggles
authors.forename: Katrina Wynkoop
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Tammy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Putvin
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Allen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001290:Attitude; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D003469:Culture; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012650:Self Disclosure; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires