Fathers' Impact on Child Maltreatment

by Child Welfare Information Gateway

A father in the home can be a strong protective factor for children. A father also may play a role in child maltreatment. This chapter first looks at the definition and impact of child maltreatment and presents data on the perpetrators of child abuse and neglect. The chapter then discusses fathers in light of their varying roles.

Child Maltreatment and Its Impact on Children

The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) (P.L. 93-247) defines child abuse and neglect as any "recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker that results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse, or exploitation" of a child under the age of 18; or, "an act or failure to act that presents an imminent risk of serious harm" to a child.

Maltreatment is commonly classified into four categories:

Physical abuse includes punching, beating, kicking, biting or shaking a child.

Sexual abuse refers to any sexual contact with a child, the simulation of such conduct with a child, exposing a child to sexually explicit material or conduct.

Child neglect is a failure to provide for a child's basic needs for health care, food, clothing, adult supervision, education, and nurturing.

Psychological maltreatment refers to behavior such as ridiculing, terrorizing, corrupting, or denying affection to a child.

The abuse and neglect of children can have profoundly negative consequences for the social, psychological, and physical health of children. The physical abuse (e.g., shaking a crying baby) and neglect of infants is linked to a range of physical and emotional maladies (e.g., seizures, irritability, developmental delays, and learning disabilities). The physical and psychological abuse of preschoolers and school-aged children is associated with depression, low self-esteem, antisocial behavior, juvenile delinquency, and adult criminal behavior. Sexual abuse is associated with depression, substance abuse, eating disorders, suicidal behavior, and promiscuity. Neglect is associated with "non-organic failure to thrive," which is characterized by below-average weight, height, and intellectual development; neglect also is linked to attachment disorders, aggression, and difficulty dealing with others.

Perpetrators of Child Maltreatment

In 2003, an estimated 906,000 children were victims of abuse and neglect. Neglect was the most common form of maltreatment, with 60.9 percent of child victims suffering from neglect in 2003. Neglect was followed by physical abuse (18.9 percent of child victims), sexual abuse (9.9 percent of child victims), and psychological maltreatment (4.9 percent of child victims). In 2003, approximately 1,500 children died because of abuse or neglect.

The largest percentage of perpetrators (83.9 percent) was parents, including birth parents, adoptive parents, and stepparents. How do fathers compare to mothers in the perpetration of child maltreatment? As discussed earlier, Federal data derived from CPS reports in 2003 indicate that in 18.8 percent of the substantiated cases, fathers were the sole perpetrators of maltreatment; in 16.9 percent of the cases, the fathers and the mothers were perpetrators; and in 1.1 percent of the cases, the father acted with someone else to abuse or neglect his child. Mothers were the sole perpetrators in 40.8 percent of the cases and acted with someone besides the father in 6.3 percent of the cases. This means that fathers were involved in 36.8 percent of child maltreatment cases and that mothers were involved in 64 percent of child maltreatment cases. Additionally, more than one-half of the male perpetrators were biological fathers, and, although recidivism rates were low, biological fathers were more likely to be perpetrators of maltreatment again than were most other male perpetrators. This may be due in part to the lack of permanence between a mother and her boyfriend or that the perpetrator may be excluded from the household before recidivism can occur.

Mothers are almost twice as likely to be directly involved in child maltreatment as fathers. Mothers are more likely to abuse or neglect their children than fathers because they bear a larger share of parenting responsibilities in two-parent families and because a large percentage of families today are headed by mothers. In some communities, they are the majority. Perpetrator patterns differ, however, by type of maltreatment. Mothers are not more likely to be the perpetrator when it comes to sexual abuse; fathers are more likely to be reported for this crime.

About the Author

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Formerly the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information and the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse, Child Welfare Information Gateway provides access to information and resources to help protect children and strengthen families. A service of the Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.