Social Isolation and Child-Abuse Risk

Social isolation or lack of social support has often been implicated in the etiology of physical child abuse. However, social isolation and social support can be defined in terms of various properties, each of which may affect the occurrence of abuse potential in a different manner or to a different degree. This study explores the dimensions of social isolation that may place mothers at greatest risk for physically abusing their children. Results indicated that certain aspects of support were important in predicting decreased physical child abuse potential: concrete support from work or school associates and emotional support in noncritical relationships throughout the support network. Results are discussed in terms of implications for interventions and future explorations of the relationship between social isolation and physical child abuse.