Family abduction in a national sample of US children. (May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Finkelhor, David; Henly, Megan; Turner, Heather; Hamby, Sherry
• Is Part Of: Child abuse & neglect. Volume 67(2017)
• Page Start: 403
• Page End: 407
• Publication Date: 2017-05
• Subjects: Child maltreatment -- Child abuse -- Missing children -- Custody disputes; Child abuse -- Periodicals; 362.76
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2016.11.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0145-2134

Abstract

Abstract: This study examined the prevalence and characteristics of family abduction episodes occurring in a nationally representative sample of US children ages 0–17. It drew on the experiences of 13, 052 children and youth from the aggregation of three cross-sectional waves (2008, 2011, and 2014) of the National Surveys of Children Exposed to Violence. The overall prevalence rate was 4.1% for a lifetime and 1.2% for a past year episode. Rates were higher for younger than older children. Parents constituted 90% of the abductors with females outnumbering males 60% to 40%, although men outnumbered women as perpetrators for certain types of abductions. A bit less than half of the episodes (43%) were reported to police. The experience of a lifetime family abduction had an independent association with traumatic stress symptoms independent of exposure to other kinds of victimization including child maltreatment and witnessing family violence.