Explores the importance of developing an awareness of cross-cultural child-rearing practices in order to better understand the causes underlying child abuse. Difficulties have existed in defining and researching the issue. However, within every culture, four factors can interact to increase or decrease the risk of child abuse: (1) the children’s cultural value; (2) beliefs about special categories of children; (3) beliefs about children’s age, capabilities, and developmental stages; and (4) child-rearing in kin and community networks. Furthermore, sociocultural and socioeconomic change can increase the risk of child abuse. Cross-cultural perspectives should be incorporated into child protection practices, training, research, and service delivery programs. (IP)
