be greatly under-reported, and if only medical emergency room statistics are used, the figures are lesser than those which include the whole range of emotional abuse. Also there is a difference between incidence and prevalence. Incidence refers to the number of new cases arising within a certain time period, and prevalence refers to all living persons at a given time that were at one time abused. Statistics vary according to their source. Child protective services may report one set of figures and the police another.
No matter how the statistics are computed, it is evident that child abuse is a major problem in American society today. The American Humane Association reported in 1983 that approximately 1.5 million children were maltreated during the year. Reported statistics generally indicate that approximately 60% of maltreated children are neglected rather than abused (Walker, Bonner, & Kaufman, 1988, p. 10). Children aged younger than five seem to be at the greatest risk. Older children are better able to escape or defend themselv
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