Fourth National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect (NIS–4)

Specific Categories of Harm Standard AbuseThe NIS–4 found significant socioeconomic status differences in allcategories of Harm Standard abuse: physical, sexual, and emotional.Physical abuse. Children in families of low SES were at significantly higherrisk of Harm Standard physical abuse compared to children not in low-SES families (4.4versus 1.5 per 1,000, respectively). The incidence rate for children in low-SES familiesis almost 3 times the rate for children not in low-SES families.Sexual abuse. Children in families of low socioeconomic status alsoexperienced a significantly higher risk of Harm Standard sexual abuse. The estimatedincidence rate for children in low-SES families was 1.7 per 1,000 children, which is morethan 2 times the rate of 0.6 children per 1,000 children not in low-SES families.Emotional abuse. The incidence of emotional abuse for children in low-SESfamilies was more than 5 times the rate for children not in families of low SES (2.6versus 0.5 children per 1,000, respectively).Specific Categories of Harm Standard NeglectThe socioeconomic subgroups had significantly different incidence rates inall specific categories of Harm Standard neglect.Physical neglect. Children in low-SES families had a significantly higherrate of Harm Standard physical neglect compared to those not in families of low SES.The risk of physical neglect for children in families of low SES is over 8 times the ratefor children not in families of low SES (6.9 versus 0.8 per 1,000 children, respectively).Emotional neglect. Children in families of low SES had a significantlyhigher risk of Harm Standard emotional neglect. The estimated incidence rate in familiesof low SES was 3.8 children per 1,000 compared to 0.8 per 1,000 children not in familiesof low SES. The incidence rate for children in low-SES families is more than 4 times therate for children not in low-SES families.5–13