Family Structure and Functioning in Neglectful Families, 1991-1993

The investigator also looked at the effects of race, chronicity of neglect, and personality factors. Study participants were recruited from the Georgia Department of Family and Children's Services by caseworkers who found them to meet NIS-2 definitions of neglect, were verified as neglectful upon investigation, and had at least one child between the ages of 5 and 18 living at home. Similarly situated families who had not been reported for neglect or abuse were selected from those same counties for a matched control group. Data collection efforts involved: caseworker interviews, home administered questionnaires, home interviews of 103 neglect and 102 control families, in-home videotaped interactions of 92 neglect and 95 control families, and follow-up interviews in some cases.

Investigators: Gaudin, J. M. & Polansky, N.A.