This article reports rates of recidivism among initially substantiated and initially unsubstantiated child maltreatment events to determine if substantiation status is associated with higher risk of recidivism. This is an important question given recent concerns that unsubstantiated cases may have as high or almost as high a risk of recidivism as do substantiated cases. The data are analyzed at both the victim level and the case level, divided by type of maltreatment, and followed for 4.5 years. The data used are administrative and combine a series of state databases with census data. Analyses are performed at the bivariate and multivariate (Cox proportional hazards model) levels. The main finding is that unsubstantiated cases are at high risk for recidivism, in many cases as high a risk as substantiated cases. Implications for practice, policy, and research are presented with a focus on the importance of providing preventative services to unsubstantiated cases.

Individual characteristics, family- and school-related variables, and environmental variables have equal importance in understanding Internet addiction. Most previous studies on Internet addiction have focused on individual factors; those that considered environmental influence typically only examined the proximal environment. Effective prevention and intervention of Internet addiction require a framework that integrates individual- and environmental-level factors. This study examined the relationships between personal factors, family/school factors, perceived Internet characteristics, and environmental variables as they contribute to Internet addiction among adolescents based on the public health model. A representative sample of 1628 junior high school students from 56 regions in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do participated in the study via questionnaires with the cooperation of the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the district office of education. The study analyzed psychological factors, family cohesion, attitudes toward academic activities, Internet characteristics, accessibility to PC cafés, and exposure to Internet game advertising. About 6% of the adolescents were categorized as being in the severely addicted group. Between-group comparisons showed that the addicted group had started using the Internet earlier; had higher levels of depression, compulsivity, and aggressiveness as well as lower family cohesion; and reported higher accessibility to PC cafés and exposure to Internet game advertising. Multiple logistic regression indicated that for adolescents, environmental factors had a greater influence than family or school-related factors. Policy implications for prevention and intervention are discussed.

Background: Quality of life (QoL) has recently attracted increased attention as a major indicator of the recovery from alcohol use disorder (AUD). This study investigated the mediating effects of social support and depression for the relationship between socioeconomic resources and QoL among people with AUD in South Korea. Methods: Patients across South Korea who had been diagnosed with AUD in the previous year (n = 404) and were registered at hospitals and addiction management centers were surveyed. The participants ranged in age from 19 to 65 years. Structural equation modeling was performed, using stable residence, income, stable employment, social support, depression, and QoL as predictors. Bootstrapping analysis was performed to test for mediating effects. Results: The socioeconomic resources income (β = .297, p < .001), stable employment (β = .131, p < .01), and stable residence (β = .091, p < .05) showed statistically significant and positive relationships with social support. However, none of these were significantly related to depression. Social support showed a significant and negative relationship with depression (β = −.172, p < .001). Income positively and directly influenced QoL (β = .148, p < .001). All three socioeconomic resources indirectly influenced depression through social support, which, in turn, influenced QoL. This suggests that socioeconomic resources directly influence QoL and indirectly influence it through social support. Conclusion: These findings suggest that social support has an important role in improving the QoL of people with AUD. Furthermore, socioeconomic resources, such as having a stable residence, employment, and income, are necessary for recovery from alcohol addiction.

Despite the fact that the goal of child welfare is to impact the caregiver’s behavior rather than the child’s, research on recurrence at the alleged perpetrator level is scant compared to research on child level recurrence. No prior studies both controlled for services participation by the caregiver and explored whether a recurrence happens with the same child. This study helps fill the gap by analyzing caregivers who are alleged perpetrators and later recurrence of abuse or neglect. In-home child welfare services were initially associated with lower recidivism but this effect moderates over time. Receipt of AFDC at study start did not impact likelihood of recidivism but receipt of AFDC (or later TANF) after the first report appears to lower the risk of recurrence. Among low income women, a history of mental health or substance abuse treatment was associated with higher recurrence. Among re-reports of alleged perpetrators, nearly 45% had at least one new child on the report. Caucasian and older perpetrators were less likely to have an alleged recurrence involving a new child. Women with mental health (but not substance abuse) treatment histories and those who had child welfare services after the first report were more likely to be re-reported for alleged maltreatment of a new child.

This study found that problem drinking was a risk factor for development of depression. Therefore, more attention should be given to problem alcohol use in the general population and evaluation of past alcohol use history in patients with depressive disorders.