Characteristics of child abuse in immigrant Korean families and correlates of placement decisions.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the characteristics and patterns of child abuse among immigrant Korean families in Los Angeles and critical variables that contribute to the type of placement made by the child protective services (CPS) system.


METHODS
Data were obtained from reviewing and analyzing 170 active Korean case files maintained by the Asian Pacific Unit (APU) of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (LAC-DCFS) during July through September, 2001. Logistic regression analysis was employed to examine the odds of children being kept in or removed from the home.


RESULTS
Some of the major findings from this study include: (1) immigrant Korean families are more likely to be charged with physical abuse (49.4%) and less likely to be charged with neglect (20.6%) in comparison with all other groups in Los Angeles (13.2% and 27.1%, respectively); (2) the circumstance under which physical abuse occurred most frequently was corporal punishment used by Korean parents with an intention to discipline their children; and (3) the context under which emotional abuse occurred among the Korean families was likely to be children's witnessing domestic violence. In addition, the logistic regression showed that response status, referral source, living arrangement, victim's relationship to perpetrator, and chronicity of abuse were significant in predicting out-of-home placement.


CONCLUSIONS
An analysis of Korean child abuse cases reported to child protective service revealed that culture and child rearing practices shaped the patterns of child maltreatment. A culturally sensitive approach is strongly suggested for effective child abuse prevention and intervention services with this group by CPS agencies.
Chang
Janet
J
Department of Social Work, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, California State University, San Bernardino, 5500 University Parkway, San Bernardino, CA 92407, USA.
Rhee
Siyon
S
Weaver
Dale
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002655:Child Custody / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007723:Korea / Q000208:ethnology; D016015:Logistic Models; D015141:Los Angeles / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged