Special Education and Teaching Commons^™

Variables And Risk Factors In Day Care Settings, Ruth B. Schumacher Ph.D., Rebecca S. Carlson B.M.

Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education

Objective: This article was developed to identify the variables associated with abuse of children in day care centers and homes, and to specify risk factors to guide professionals and parents.

Method: The literature regarding child abuse [physical (PA), sexual (SA), and ritual (RA)] was reviewed, with emphasis on identification of variables associated with victims, perpetrators, and settings. Three factors increased the complexity of the review: (1) Differences in definition and categorization complicated study comparison. (2) Emotional tone affected some reviewers' definitions, methodology, and conclusions. (3) Some aspects of child abuse in day care homes and centers have not been well …