Abuse and neglect in the middle-class family: the victim's view of self and parents.

Current research reveals the integrated nature of child abuse, neglect, and other aspects of family violence in lower-class homes. Although there is ample information on the relationship between selected social psychological aspects of self, interaction patterns, and perceptions of parents among lower-class families, little attention has been directed to the relationship of these variables in stable middle-class homes. A sample survey of undergraduate students (N = 570) reveals significant associations between violence and neglect within the family and social psychological measures of self, interaction patterns, and perception of parents. The overall results of this study indicate that the dynamics of abuse and neglect are similar regardless of social class context. Family physicians, particularly those concerned with student health, should be alerted to the social psychological variables which indicate family dysfunction and patterns of abuse and neglect in middle-class families.