Physical violence and psychological aggression towards children: five-year trends in practices and attitudes from two population surveys.
OBJECTIVE
To present prevalence rates of child psychological aggression and physical violence from a population survey conducted in 2004 and to compare the rates with the rates obtained in the 1999 edition of the survey.


METHODS
The survey used a randomly generated telephone number methodology. Interviews were conducted using a computer-assisted telephone interview system with a representative sample of 3,148 mothers living in Quebec province, Canada. Responses relating to psychological aggression, minor and severe physical violence were collected using the Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scales.


RESULTS
Eighty percent of the mothers reported the use of psychological aggression towards a child by an adult living in the household, 43% reported at least one episode of minor violence, and 6% reported at least one episode of severe physical violence. When compared to the 1999 surveys, mothers reported 5% less minor physical violence in 2004, a result that is counterbalanced by a similar significant increase in the report of repeated psychological violence towards children in a year. Results also reveal a significant decrease in attitudes favoring the use of violence for discipline purpose between 2004 and 1999.


CONCLUSIONS
The trends observed in violence towards children over the 5-year period may partly be attributed to a change in mother's attitudes concerning methods of disciplining children. Findings support the need to promote alternative methods of firm discipline that do not involve violence.
Clément
Marie-Eve
ME
Département de psychoéducation et psychologie, Université du Québec en Outaouais, C.P. 1250, Succ. Hull, Gatineau, Quebec J8X 3X7, Canada.
Chamberland
Claire
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001290:Attitude; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000639:trends; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D011792:Quebec; D014754:Violence