U.S. kids exposed to more violence, abuse

DURHAM, N.H., Oct. 8 (UPI) -- U.S. children are routinely exposed to more violence and abuse than previously recognized -- nearly half experience a physical assault, researchers found.

David Finkelhor, director of the University of New Hampshire Crimes against Children Research Center, and colleagues said three out of five children were exposed to violence, abuse or a criminal victimization in the last year.

Of this group, 46 percent had been physically assaulted, 10 percent who had been maltreated by a caregiver, 6 percent who had been sexually victimized and 10 percent had witnessed an assault within their family.

"Children experience far more violence, abuse and crime than do adults," Finkelhor said in a statement. "If life were this dangerous for ordinary grown-ups, we'd never tolerate it."

Earlier studies of violence exposure only inquired about bullying or child maltreatment or sexual abuse, in contrast, this study asked 4,549 children ages 0-17 about all such exposures as well as additional ones such as dating violence and witnessing domestic violence, Finkelhor said.

More than one-third of the children had had two or more different kinds of exposures in the past year and 11 percent had five or more, the study said.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder Wednesday referenced the study during a visit to Chicago, following the beating death of Derrion Albert, a high school honor student killed two weeks ago.

The research is published in the journal Pediatrics and an Office of Justice Programs/OJJDP bulletin: "Children's Exposure to Violence: A Comprehensive National Survey."