ABSTRACT
Physical abuse in childhood (defined here as birth through age 12 years) is a widespread phenomenon with significant negative consequences for the victims and society at large (Gilbert et al., 2009). In the United States, approximately 3.5 million children were reported to have been victims of child abuse and neglect in the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2013 (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2015). Of these reports, about 679,000 children were substantiated as victims by state and local child protective agencies. Most of these maltreated children were victims of neglect (79.5% of victims) and physical abuse (18% of victims). In addition, more than 1,500 maltreated children died as a result of child abuse and neglect, and nearly 75% of them were younger than 3 (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2015).
