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This paper provides a review of research in the area of physical maltreatment with respect to the degree to which males are represented in research samples. The systematic, comprehensive review includes 126 articles published between the years 1989 and 1994 in nine primary journals. Results show that adult males are dramatically underrepresented in this research. Specifically, males were included in fewer than one-half (47.7%) of the 77 articles reviewed and the total number and percentage of males in research samples was significantly less than the number and percentage of females. Only three studies included males exclusively, yet 40 studies involved solely female participants. Of the studies that did include men, only 37.5% provided an evaluation of gender differences. Research involving abused children showed a much greater representation of male subjects than research with adult participants. Only four of 49 studies of abused children were based exclusively on girls; a full 62.8% included an equal representation of boys and girls.

The primary purpose of this research was to examine the construct validity of the Child Abuse Potential Inventory by comparing maltreating and high-risk parents' CAP Inventory abuse scores to their behavior during interactions with their children. A second purpose was to determine the degree to which CAP Inventory scores and parenting behavior were related to several known correlates of abuse, as measured by parent and teacher reports. Participants (n = 41) included abusive and high-risk parents and their children referred to a treatment group. Correlational analyses revealed that CAP Inventory scores and observed parenting style yielded highly related findings, supporting construct validity of the CAP Inventory. However, the CAP Inventory and observed behavior index showed a different pattern of relationships to the risk correlates. Implications for assessment of risk status are discussed and recommendations are provided for continued research.

Given the well-documented, long-term, negative mental health consequences of child sexual abuse, it is important that children receive counseling following abuse. Often, the social worker's responsibility is to insure that abused children are appropriately referred for counseling following disclosure of sexual abuse. There are multiple factors that could facilitate or hinder this process, and identification of these factors is important in assisting families in becoming engaged in therapy. The purpose of this study was to (1) determine the extent of the problem of sexual abuse victims failing to keep their first scheduled therapy appointment, and (2) identify factors associated with failure to attend. Subjects were 129 consecutive child sexual abuse clients referred to long-term therapy by counselors at a crisis intervention center. Those who attended their first therapy session (n = 84) were found to differ from those who did not (n = 45) on the basis of their race, the center to which they were referred (private or public), whether the family had a telephone in the home, and whether the child's mother agreed that the family needed counseling. Implications of this study for increasing attendance at therapy are presented and recommendations are made for further research.