Child abuse in rural Australia: Explanations and implications

Abstract

This paper considers some possible explanations for the higher incidence and seriousness of physical abuse, sexual abuse and neglect in Australian and overseas rural communities (Finkelhor, 1979; Finkelhor et al, 1988; Goldman & Goldman, 1988; Wilson & Collingridge, 1989; Lynn, 1990; Merryweather, 1990; Jones & McCurdy, 1992; Albert & Barth, 1996). Research findings question the popular belief that rural areas are safer environments for children than urban communities (Finkelhor et al, 1988). Unfortunately, child abuse research has been compromised by methodological problems such as definitional variation, lack of control in research design, poor construct validity, low reliability of assessment instruments, and poor generalisability of results (Magura & Moses, 1984, 1986; Fantuzzo & Twentyman, 1986; Haugaard & Emery, 1989).