Understanding child abuse and neglect /

This meticulous investigation of child abuse research is organized in a child-oriented framework with an ecological developmental perspective. It examines factors in child, family, or society that influence the occurrence or consequences of child maltreatment, rather than assessing research around categories of maltreatment. Scattered research is gathered and presented under areas of identification, scope, etiology, prevention, consequences, and interventions, a major contribution. The panel's exhaustive investigations should assure this readable, well-organized report a place in every academic library if only for its extensive bibliographies. Each chapter includes recommendations for future research, and concluding chapters discuss infrastructure support necessary to pursue such research. Essential reading for those in the field of child abuse, the report is accessible to undergraduates in many fields as a basic resource. Highly recommended. M. E. Elwell; Salisbury State University