Community Informant Explanations for Unusual Neighborhood Rates of Child Maltreatment Reports

Neighbourhood collective efficacy and protective effects on child maltreatment: A systematic literature review

“…A few of the American studies emanated from the national longitudinal study on Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing (FFCW) (Barnhart & Maguire‐Jack, 2016; Cao & Maguire‐Jack, 2016; Guterman, Lee, Taylor, & Rathouz, 2009; Kim & Maguire‐Jack, 2015), and the majority of the remaining studies were cross‐sectional surveys (Emery, Eremina, et al, 2015; Freisthler & Maguire‐Jack, 2015; Fujiwara, Yamaoka, & Kawachi, 2016; Guterman et al., 2009; Nawa, Isumi, & Fujiwara, 2018). Participants for these studies were mostly mothers and caregivers, a few adults and community members (Finno‐Velasquez, He, Perrigo, & Hurlburt, 2017; Wolf, Baiocchi, & Arguello, 2018; Yonas et al., 2010). The common data collection techniques across the included studies were survey interviews and telephone or online surveys.…”

“…In sharp contrast, Kim and Maguire‐Jack (2015) found parents’ community involvement to be inversely related to physical aggression. Evidence from interviews with community key informants revealed that frequent interactions and involvement in community activities could source informational and concrete support, which will prevent neglectful behaviours (Finno‐Velasquez et al., 2017). Through community activities parents may share their emotional challenges and get support from neighbours (Kim & Maguire‐Jack., 2015; Wolf, 2015).…”

How might neighborhood built environment influence child maltreatment? Caregiver perceptions

“…A limited number of studies have investigated caregivers’ perceptions of links between neighborhood and child maltreatment (e.g., Finno-Velasquez et al, 2017; Korbin et al, 1998). Recent qualitative inquiry by Finno-Velasquez and colleagues (2017) examined how various neighborhood informants (child welfare or social services workers) working with families in Los Angeles and San Diego county neighborhoods perceived those neighborhoods to affect child maltreatment and its reporting. Neighborhood informants in Finno-Velasquez et al’s (2017) study suggested that having more dwelling space was protective against maltreatment because it lessened intra-household conflict.…”

“…Recent qualitative inquiry by Finno-Velasquez and colleagues (2017) examined how various neighborhood informants (child welfare or social services workers) working with families in Los Angeles and San Diego county neighborhoods perceived those neighborhoods to affect child maltreatment and its reporting. Neighborhood informants in Finno-Velasquez et al’s (2017) study suggested that having more dwelling space was protective against maltreatment because it lessened intra-household conflict. Informants also hypothesized that the absence of built space outside of the home for families to interact with one another (e.g., parks) promoted social isolation and, in turn, child maltreatment.…”

“…Though the work of Finno-Velasquez et al (2017) importantly advances our understanding of the perceived roles of built space in child maltreatment, the relationship between the neighborhood built environment and child maltreatment remains under-researched. Moreover, the voices of neighborhood caregivers themselves have been less visible in the literature.…”