Hopelessness and high risk parenting attitudes in relation to child abuse and neglect

Abstract

A review of the literature indicates the relationship between hopelessness and depression in adolescent females is significant. The problem of hopelessness as a component of depression is explored in this study, as is the correlation between hopelessness and high risk parenting attitudes in teenage girls. According to a study by Lamb and Nitz (1991), approximately one million teenage girls become pregnant each year. Adolescents who become parents may experience added stress, which may result in child abuse and neglect. Child abuse and neglect is at an all time high in our country, and is surely a national crisis. The Child Abuse Prevention, Adoption and Family Services Act of 1988 (Public Law 93-247) defines abuse and neglect as “the physical or mental injury, sexual abuse or exploitation, negligent treatment or maltreatment of a child under the age of 18 by a person who is responsible for the child’s welfare under circumstances which indicate that the child’s health or welfare is harmed or threatened” (Bavolek, 1990). This study will acknowledge and discuss the importance of identifying and treating hopelessness in teenage mothers. Rust (1999) indicates teenage mothers are at increased risk for depression and high risk parenting attitudes in relation to child physical abuse. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to correlate hopelessness and high risk parenting attitudes in teenage parents. There is a great amount that can be learned from this study, and research suggests that child abuse and neglect and the problems associated with this issue are not going away, they are at epidemic proportions, despite the increased interventions of the last ten years. This study is pertinent in today’s world and can provide insight into reducing the incidents of child abuse and neglect. The purpose of this study is to assess the degree of correlation between hopelessness in adolescent females and high risk parenting attitudes. For the purpose of this study, thirty adolescent females were asked to complete the Beck’s Hopelessness Scale and Adult-Adolescent Parenting Inventory (AAPI-2), [Bavolek,1999]. Upon completion of the study, a significant degree of correlation was not found between hopelessness in adolescent females and high risk parenting attitudes.