Differentiation of family mistreatment: Similarities and differences by status of the victim

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Abstract
Definitions that emerge when people react to behaviors that can be viewed as mistreatment were compared in a research design that varied the status of the victim: child, elderly parent, husband, or wife. Vignettes developed by Giovannoni and Becerra (1979) were adopted for use in this study by varying reference to the perpetrator and the victim. Factor analysis of the seriousness ratings of the vignettes by a purposive sample of lay respondents, college students (N=214), showed, with minor exceptions, similar definitions for failure to provide, emotional mistreatment, and sexual abuse across the victim groups. Many similarities and differences between victim groups appear related to the dependent status of the victim. Definitions for mistreatment of wives and husbands were alike, but differed from those for children and the elderly.