Characteristics of child abuse in immigrant Korean families and correlates of placement decisions

Abstract

Objective

This study examined the characteristics and patterns of child abuse among immigrant Korean families in Los Angeles and critical variables that contribute to the type of placement made by the child protective services (CPS) system.

Method

Data were obtained from reviewing and analyzing 170 active Korean case files maintained by the Asian Pacific Unit (APU) of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (LAC-DCFS) during July through September, 2001. Logistic regression analysis was employed to examine the odds of children being kept in or removed from the home.

Results

Some of the major findings from this study include: (1) immigrant Korean families are more likely to be charged with physical abuse (49.4%) and less likely to be charged with neglect (20.6%) in comparison with all other groups in Los Angeles (13.2% and 27.1%, respectively); (2) the circumstance under which physical abuse occurred most frequently was corporal punishment used by Korean parents with an intention to discipline their children; and (3) the context under which emotional abuse occurred among the Korean families was likely to be children's witnessing domestic violence. In addition, the logistic regression showed that response status, referral source, living arrangement, victim's relationship to perpetrator, and chronicity of abuse were significant in predicting out-of-home placement.

Conclusions

An analysis of Korean child abuse cases reported to child protective service revealed that culture and child rearing practices shaped the patterns of child maltreatment. A culturally sensitive approach is strongly suggested for effective child abuse prevention and intervention services with this group by CPS agencies.

Résumé

Objectif

Cette étude a examiné les caractéristiques et les tendances de la maltraitance parmi des familles coréennes immigrées vivant à Los Angeles; et les variables importantes qui influencent le type de placement que les autorités de la protection de l’enfance choisissent.

Méthode

Des données ont été obtenues suite à une revue et une analyse de 170 cas actifs portant sur des familles coréennes. Ces dossiers sont tenus par la direction Asie-Pacifique des autorités de la protection de l’enfance pour le comté de Los Angeles. Une régression logistique a permis d’examiner la probabilité que les autorités laisseront les enfants dans leur foyer ou les placeront à l’extérieur de la famille.

Résultats

Parmi les constats principaux de l’étude, on note que: (1) les familles coréennes immigrées sont plus aptes à être accusées de mauvais traitements physiques (49.4%) et moins aptes à la négligence (20.6), comparées à tous les autres groupes vivant à Los Angeles (respectivement; 13.2% et 27.1%); (2) les circonstances entourant les mauvais traitements physiques sont reliées principalement aux punitions corporelles dont ont recours les parents coréens pour discipliner leurs enfants; et (3) la maltraitance émotionnelle est plutôt le résultat d’avoir été témoin de violence conjugale. De plus, une régression logistique démontre que les facteurs suivants servent à prédire avec confiance que l’enfant sera placé à l’extérieur du foyer: la réaction des autorités, l’origine du signalement, la relation entre la victime et l’agresseur et la nature chronique de la maltraitance.

Conclusions

Une analyse des cas de mauvais traitements signalés aux autorités de la protection de l’enfance révèle que la culture coréenne et la façon d’élever les enfants contribuent à définir la nature de la maltraitance. Une approche qui est sensible aux facteurs culturels est nécessaire si les autorités veulent prévenir et intervenir avec succès auprès de ce groupe.

Resumen

Objetivo

este estudio examinó las características y los patrones de maltrato infantil entre familias inmigrantes de Corea en Los Ángeles y analizó las variables críticas que influyen en el tipo de decisión tomada por el sistema de protección infantil.

Método

Se obtuvieron los datos revisando y analizando 170 archivos de casos activos de familias coreanas en la Unidad de Asia y Pacífico del Departamento de Infancia u los Servicios de Familia del Condado de Los Ángeles entre Julio y Setiembre de 2001. Se utilizaron análisis de regresión logística para examinar las probabilidades de que los niños se queden o no en el hogar familiar.

Resultados

Algunos de los principales hallazgos de este estudio incluyen: (1) las familias inmigrantes coreanas tienen más posibilidades de ser acusadas de maltrato físico (49.4%) y menos de negligencia (20.6%) en comparación con otros grupos de los Ángeles (13.2% y 27.1%, respectivamente); (2) el castigo físico utilizado por los padres coreanos con la intención de ejercer la disciplina con sus hijos es la circunstancia bajo la que ocurre con más frecuencia el maltrato físico; y (3) la observación de violencia doméstica es el contexto bajo el que se producen con más frecuencia las situaciones de maltrato emocional en las familias coreanas. Además, los análisis de regresión logística mostraron que el status de la respuesta, la fuente de derivación, la relación de la víctima con el agresor y la cronicidad del maltrato tenían efectos significativos en la predicción de la ubicación del menor fuera de su domicilio.

Conclusiones

El análisis de los casos de maltrato infantil de familias coreanas notificados a los servicios de protección infantil reveló que la cultura y las prácticas de crianza conforman los patrones de maltrato infantil. Los servicios de prevención e intervención del maltrato infantil con este grupo de usuarios de las agencias de protección infantil requieren de una aproximación sensible culturalmente para ser más efectivos.

Introduction

Cross-cultural competency in child welfare practice is critical to effective service delivery to families from diverse ethnicities and cultures (Baumrind, 1994; Hong & Hong, 1991). As the population of ethnic minorities has doubled in the United States from 34 million in 1970 to 69.8 million in 2000 (US Census Bureau, 2003a), more families from minority groups have been brought to the attention of the child welfare system. Studies have shown that ethnic minority families are at a greater risk of child maltreatment than those in mainstream groups (Connelly & Straus, 1992; Widom, 1989). In particular, African American and Native American families are over-represented in the reported cases of child abuse and neglect (US Department of Health and Human Services, 1998). The high number of cases reported from ethnic minority communities makes the cultural competency of child welfare workers essential to their practice with ethnic minority families.

Despite the increased need for child protective services (CPS) among minority groups, the amount of research on child maltreatment within these groups is limited. Empirical research on child maltreatment among Korean Americans is especially lacking. Except a few studies that describe the conception of and attitudes towards child abuse among the population (Park, 2001, Song, 1986), no studies have been conducted to empirically examine the nature and patterns of child maltreatment among Korean immigrant families. The scarcity of research on child abuse among Korean immigrants hampers practitioners from developing a culturally competent understanding of the dynamics of child maltreatment assessment, prevention, and intervention efforts.

Korean American families, similar to other Asian American families, are in general viewed as stable and free from serious family problems (Kitano & Daniels, 2001). This “model minority” image of Korean Americans distorts the actual diverse realities they experience. For example, contrary to the general stereotype of a model minority, immigrant Korean families were reported to experience the highest rate of spousal abuse among various Asian immigrant groups in Los Angeles County (Rhee, 1997). Similarly, the Los Angeles County Attorney's office revealed that Korean immigrant males constituted the highest percentage of all Asian defendants accused of spousal abuse (Chun, 1990). Furthermore, the Korean Family Service Center in Los Angeles reported that domestic violence was one of the leading reasons to seek help from the agency (Korean Family Service Center, 2003).

Since no empirical studies have been conducted on the patterns of child abuse in Korean immigrant families, this study aims to fill the gap in knowledge about the characteristics and patterns of child abuse in this population by examining child maltreatment cases reported to CPS in Los Angeles County and critical variables that contribute to the choice of placement made by CPS.