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

Table 3–1 indicates that an estimated 2.0 per 1,000 (148,500 children)suffered Harm Standard emotional abuse in 2005–2006. Emotionally abused childrenrepresented 27% of all children counted as abused under the Harm Standard.Changes since the NIS–3 and NIS–2 in the incidence of Harm Standardabuse. Across the Harm Standard abuse categories, the only statistically significantchange since the NIS–3 was in the incidence of sexual abuse, which declined by 38% intotal numbers. This corresponds to a 44% decrease in the rate of sexual abuse, from 3.2children per 1,000 in 1993 to 1.8 children per 1,000 in 2005–2006. The incidence ofHarm Standard physical abuse and emotional abuse also decreased since the NIS–3, butas Table 3–1 indicates, those decreases did not match the sexual abuse decrease, either insize or in statistical strength. The number of children who experienced physical abusedecreased by 15%, whereas the number who suffered emotional abuse decreased by 27%.The decreases in incidence rates were 23% for physical abuse (from 5.7 to 4.4 per 1,000children) and 33% for emotional abuse (from 3.0 to 2.0 per 1,000 children). Thesedecreases are statistically marginal, approaching but not reaching the level traditionallyrequired for statistical significance.The NIS–4 Harm Standard estimates for physical, sexual and emotionalabuse do not differ statistically from the NIS–2 Harm Standard estimates for thecomponent categories of abuse. Thus, the decreases since 1993 in the categories of HarmStandard abuse have returned their incidence rates to levels that are statisticallyequivalent to what they were at the time of the NIS–2 in 1986.3.1.4 Specific Categories of Harm Standard NeglectHarm Standard neglect includes three specific categories: physical,emotional, and educational neglect. Again, the estimates in Table 3–1 include children ineach category that applied to them, so the sum of these neglect categories is greater thanthe total of all neglected children.Physical neglect. This type of neglect includes abandonment; refusal ofcustody; illegal transfer of custody; unstable custody arrangements; medical neglect;inadequate supervision; inadequate attention to needs for food, clothing, shelter, orpersonal hygiene; and other disregard for the child’s physical needs or physical safety.3–8