Adrea D Theodore

Publications (5)14.02 Total impact

• Source

  Available from: Des Runyan

  Article: Corporal punishment and physical abuse: population‐based trends for three‐to‐11‐year‐old children in the United States

  Adam J. Zolotor, Adrea D. Theodore, Desmond K. Runyan, Jen Jen Chang, Antoinette L. Laskey
  Child Abuse Review 01/2011; 20(1):57 - 66. · 0.56 Impact Factor
• Article: Speak softly--and forget the stick. Corporal punishment and child physical abuse.

  Adam J Zolotor, Adrea D Theodore, Jen Jen Chang, Molly C Berkoff, Desmond K Runyan
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: Previous studies have shown an association between spanking and child physical abuse. However, the relationship between more frequent and severe corporal punishment and abuse remains unknown. The objective of this study was to examine the associations between reported spanking, spanking frequency, or spanking with an object and the odds of physical abuse in a representative sample of mothers from North and South Carolina. This study is a cross-sectional, anonymous telephone survey of adult mothers with children aged<18 years living in the Carolinas in 2002. The analysis was conducted in 2007. Survey responses were used to determine the association between corporal punishment (spanking, spanking frequency, and spanking with an object) and an index of harsh physical punishment consistent with physical abuse (beating, burning, kicking, hitting with an object somewhere other than the buttocks, or shaking a child aged<2 years). Mothers who report that the child was spanked are 2.7 (95% CI=1.2, 6.3) times more likely to report abuse. Increases in the frequency of reported spanking in the last year are also associated with increased odds of abuse (OR=1.03, 95% CI=1.01, 1.06). Mothers reporting spanking with an object are at markedly increased odds of reporting abuse (OR=8.9, 95% CI=4.1, 19.6). Although reported spanking increases the odds of reported physical abuse, the relationship between the reported hitting of a child with an object and reported abuse is much stronger. Reduction in this form of discipline through media, educational, and legislative efforts may reduce child physical abuse.
  American Journal of Preventive Medicine 10/2008; 35(4):364-9. · 4.04 Impact Factor
• Article: Psychological abuse between parents: associations with child maltreatment from a population-based sample.

  Jen Jen Chang, Adrea D Theodore, Sandra L Martin, Desmond K Runyan
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: This study examined the association between partner psychological abuse and child maltreatment perpetration. This cross-sectional study examined a population-based sample of mothers with children aged 0-17 years in North and South Carolina (n=1,149). Mothers were asked about the occurrence of potentially neglectful or abusive behaviors toward their children by either themselves or their husband/partner in the past year. Partner psychological abuse was categorized as no psychological abuse (reference), husband perpetrates, wife perpetrates, or both perpetrate. Outcome measures for psychological and physical abuse of the child had four categories: no abuse (reference), mother perpetrates, father/father-figure perpetrates, or both parents perpetrate, whereas child neglect was binary. Adjusted relative risk ratios (aRRRs), adjusted odds ratios, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated with regression models. A relative risk ratio was the ratio of odds ratios derived from multinomial logistic regression. Children were at the greatest risk of maltreatment when parents psychologically abused each other versus no abuse: the aRRR for child psychological abuse by the mother only was 16.13 (95% CI: 5.11, 50.92) compared to no abuse, controlling for child age, gender, Medicaid welfare, and mother's level of education. Both parents psychologically abuse each other versus no abuse also results in an aRRR of 14.57 (95% CI: 3.85, 55.16) for child physical abuse by both parents compared to no abuse. When only the husband perpetrates toward the wife, the odds of child neglect was 5.29 times as much as families with no psychological abuse (95% CI: 1.36, 20.62). Partner psychological abuse was strongly related to child maltreatment. Children experienced a substantially increased risk of maltreatment when partner psychological abuse was present in the homes. This study observed that intimate partner psychological abuse significantly increased risk of child maltreatment. Increased public awareness of partner psychological abuse is warranted. Primary prevention should include education about the seriousness of partner psychological abuse in families. Domestic violence and child welfare agencies must recognize the link between partner psychological abuse and child maltreatment and work together to develop effective screening for each of these problems.
  Child Abuse & Neglect 09/2008; 32(8):819-29. · 2.47 Impact Factor
• Article: A survey of pediatricians' attitudes and experiences with court in cases of child maltreatment.

  Adrea D Theodore, Desmond K Runyan
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: To explore pediatricians' attitudes and experiences with the court system in child maltreatment cases. An anonymous, cross-sectional survey of a random sample of pediatricians registered with the North Carolina Medical Board. The response rate of the study was 60% (N=270). Few pediatricians (10%) reported that they had "ever" suspected maltreatment but decided not to report it. Pediatricians were equally likely to recall positive and negative experiences in court for child abuse cases. Pediatricians with negative court experiences were more likely to view reporting as time-consuming and were more than twice as likely not to report suspected cases of maltreatment (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.04, 6.0). Seventy-five percent of pediatricians felt that court is harmful or distressing for children. The majority of pediatricians report suspected cases of child maltreatment. Pediatrician's court experiences play a role in the response to child maltreatment cases, influencing attitudes towards the legal system and the process of caring for maltreated children. Future research efforts should address physicians' concerns about the impact of court on children, ways to improve the working relationship between the legal system and physicians, and the training needs of physicians in child maltreatment, including testifying and understanding the court process.
  Child Abuse & Neglect 01/2007; 30(12):1353-63. · 2.47 Impact Factor
• Article: Epidemiologic features of the physical and sexual maltreatment of children in the Carolinas.

  Adrea D Theodore, Jen Jen Chang, Desmond K Runyan, Wanda M Hunter, Shrikant I Bangdiwala, Robert Agans
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: Child maltreatment remains a significant public health and social problem in the United States. Incidence data rely on substantiated reports of maltreatment known to official social service agencies. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiologic features of child physical and sexual abuse, on the basis of maternal self-reports. Computer-assisted, anonymous, cross-sectional, telephone surveys (N = 1435) were conducted with mothers of children 0 to 17 years of age in North and South Carolina. Mothers were asked about potentially abusive behaviors used by either themselves or their husbands or partners in the context of other disciplinary practices. They were also asked about their knowledge of any sexual victimization their children might have experienced. The incidence of physical and sexual maltreatment determined through maternal reports. Use of harsh physical discipline, equivalent to physical abuse, occurred with an incidence of 4.3%. Shaking of very young children as a means of discipline occurred among 2.6% of children <2 years of age. Mothers reported more frequent physical discipline of their children, including shaking, for themselves than for fathers or father figures. Nearly 11 of 1000 children were reported by their mothers as having been sexually victimized within the past year. The incidence of physical abuse determined with maternal self-reports was 40 times greater than that of official child physical abuse reports, and the sexual abuse incidence was 15 times greater. For every 1 child who sustains a serious injury as a result of shaking, an estimated 150 children may be shaken and go undetected. There was no statistically significant difference in the overall rates of physical or sexual maltreatment between the 2 states. Official statistics underestimate the burden of child maltreatment. Supplemental data obtained with alternative strategies can assist policymakers and planners in addressing needs and services within communities and states. These data support the need for continued interventions to prevent maltreatment.
  PEDIATRICS 04/2005; 115(3):e331-7. · 4.47 Impact Factor