Edizioni FrancoAngeli - Last issue of MALTRATTAMENTO E ABUSO ALL’INFANZIA (1/2013)

Differenze cross-culturali nell’orientamento alle punizioni fisiche e nella valutazione delle competenze genitoriali

Tue, 15 Apr 2013 8:00:00 GMT

Luca Milani

Physical punishment and the role of cultural context: a review

Tue, 15 Apr 2013 8:00:00 GMT

Giovanni Giulio Valtolina
Parental physical punishment has been intensely studied. Nevertheless, many issues still have to be clarified and outlined. One of them is the role of cultural context where physical punishment takes place. The article presents a review of the most recent studies examining the complex relation between physical punishment and the role of cultural context. Directions for future research are discussed at the end of the article.

Parenting practices and attitude toward punishment: a comparison between Italians and immigrants

Tue, 15 Apr 2013 8:00:00 GMT

Angelica Arace, Donatella Scarzello, Cristiano Occelli
The present study aimed at, with cross-cultural perspective, analyzing the differences in parental educational practices, with a particular focus on attitudes towards the physical discipline and use of corporal punishment. 123 parents (61 mothers and 62 fathers) of children of school age, 52% Italians and 48% immigrants, completed a self-report questionnaire about beliefs, educational values, parenting practices and disciplinary strategies. With regards to results, 1) no cultural differences were found in parental beliefs about physical discipline and frequency of use of corporal punishment; 2) in both samples, physical discipline is associated with a lack of emotional support, parental anger and impulsivity; 3) cultural differences in the association between parent’s gender, parenting styles and use of physical punishment were found; 4) child gender and number of children influence the parent’s use of physical punishment.

Risk and protective factors in the evaluation of parenting skills: a comparison between Italian and immigrant families

Tue, 15 Apr 2013 8:00:00 GMT

Luca Milani, Giulia Gagliardi
Recent demographic evaluations show that foreign residents in Italy have tripled in the last ten years. The condition of being a migrant places individuals and families in a state of vulnerability, due to the demanding acculturation process and to the struggle in mediating between the culture of origin and the one of the host country. When Social Services are involved in the assessment of risk of maltreatment of families, a key element is the accuracy in the detecting the most prominent risk factors and the presence of protective factors. The aim of the present study is to appraise the efficacy of the Risk and Protective factors Protocol (Di Blasio, 2005) when applied to immigrant families. A comparison was made between 20 social records of Italian families and 20 social records of immigrant families referred to Social Services due to the risk of maltreatment to their children. Results show that risk and protective factors assessed by the Protocol are functional to identify specific instances of vulnerability related to the condition of being mi grants, and to differentiate between high and low risk families independently from the country of origin.

Uselfulness and limits of the Family drawing test, in the evaluation of child sexual abuse in expert testimony: A field survey

Tue, 15 Apr 2013 8:00:00 GMT

Andrea Lisi, Valentina Stallone, Maria Giovanna Tomasino, Valeria Affatati, Carmen Dimastromatteo, Ignazio Grattagliano
This study, which is a case-reports-study, analyzes the utility and limitations of the "Draw-A-Family Test" in identifying graphic signs of abuse when evaluating minors. The drawings of two groups of minors were compared: 8 children where abuse was verified by the Italian courts; and 8 non-abused children who made up the control group. The drawings were analyzed using an ad hoc grid composed of 17 graphic indicators. The results of this study show that no statistically significant differences exist between the two groups in all of the variables investigated. Our data confirm the literature orientation which considers it neither opportune nor methodologically correct to use this instrument in the field of forensics as "proof" that abuse has been perpetrated on a minor.

Ce.S.T.A.: Centre for Support and Protection of Foster Care

Tue, 15 Apr 2013 8:00:00 GMT

Marianna Giordano, Chiara Capasso
The article describes an experience of Social service that supports the parents during the meetings with their children and provides personal opportunities. This text gives importance to the role of the operator that exerts a positive influence on the preservation of child and his family by interventions of assistance, intermediation, explanation, safeguard and a daily support to the parents. The lack of shared and integrated planning with other evaluation and care intervention services represents a critical point as well as the arising of very complex situations for which the foster care can’t protect the children enough.

Recensioni

Tue, 15 Apr 2013 8:00:00 GMT

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Tue, 15 Apr 2013 8:00:00 GMT