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

Changes since 1986 in outcomes from Endangerment Standardmaltreatment. The NIS–4 found no significant change since the NIS–3 in the incidenceof any outcome from Endangerment Standard maltreatment.Previously, the NIS–3 revealed significant increases in the rates of childrenseriously harmed or endangered by Endangerment Standard maltreatment. Since nomeasurable changes in the incidence of these categories occurred since the NIS–3, thetwo statistically significant differences between the NIS–2 and the NIS–4 reflect thoseearlier changes. Specifically, the total number of children who were seriously harmed byEndangerment Standard maltreatment was still 255% higher in the 2005–2006 study yearthan it was in 1986. Even considering the larger child population at the time of the NIS–4, the incidence rate for this category was still 200% higher than in 1986. The totalnumber of children who were endangered by Endangerment Standard maltreatment was351% higher at the time of the NIS–4 compared to the 1986 total, which corresponds to a290% higher incidence rate for this level of harm. The discussion above concerning theHarm Standard estimates described the increased incidence of children fatally injured bymaltreatment. The Endangerment Standard estimates for this category are identical, sothis discussion will not reiterate those percentage differences.3–24