In this study, a secondary analysis of the 2003 & 2008 child guidance center survey of child abuse cases was conducted, revealing four patterns (cluster analysis) of abusive families. The four family patterns identified were labeled as the “two-parent model,” “mother-and-child model,” “father-and-child model,” and “common-law marriage model.” Additionally, the characteristics of these families were confirmed by cross-tabulating items related to these patterns and the primary causes of abuse. Furthermore, logistic regression analysis was conducted which clarified that the variables “sexual abuse,” “age of child (infant or young child),” “the child’s perception of the abuse (understands that a horrible thing had been done to him/her),” “mental & physical state of the abuser,” “inferior living environment,” “lack of affect & responsiveness in the child,” “delay of intellectual development,” and “suspected antisocial conduct” were associated with the child being taken into temporary protective custody. Based on the results of the cluster analysis and logistic regression analysis, the principal characteristics of these families were identified, and the need to take prompt action with such families was stressed.

This study reports on hypotheses for the needs and methods of support for workers in residential children’s homes. To generate these hypotheses, we conducted a questionnaire survey directed to directors and/or administrators of 165 residential children’s homes in the Kanto region of Japan. The survey was delivered by mail and completed surveys were obtained from 40 children’s homes. The surveys were then analyzed using the Jiro Kawakita method.

As a result, we obtained the hypotheses that “staff’s unresolved problems,” “work environment problems,” and “child and family problems,” interact together to cause staff burnout. With regard to methods of support, the hypotheses that “information sharing, consultation and step-by-step responses,” “adjusting organizational structure,” “team support,” “support from administrators and professionals,” and “taking measures to improve worker skills,” would contribute to worker support was obtained. Further research is required to elaborate upon these hypothetical models.

The idea of the modern family, which became a prevalent family configuration in and after the Meiji era (1868–1912), regards the family as private territory, transforming it into a sacred cow and isolating it from the community. In this study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with five specialists working in agencies dealing with child abuse, from January to August 2015. We gained insights into nine cases of child abuse, where the abused child came from households deeply ingrained in this modern family ideology. This ideology espouses a family based on a strict gender based division of labor, for example, the belief that it is the mother who is responsible for taking care of a child. Accordingly, this family ideology can place emotional pressure on the mother by suggesting that a mother who does not embrace her role as the primary caregiver doesn’t love her child, or by implying that it is only natural for mothers to love their child.

In this paper, an analysis is conducted on how this ideology becomes a psychological burden for mothers, and how it impacts child rearing. Using a grounded theory approach, fifteen subcategories were identified to explore the model of the modern family and its association with child abuse. Full-time mothers experience pressure to conform to this modern family ideology and to present themselves externally as functioning happily. Internally, however, they experience constant pressure to meet these expectations and to perform their specific gender roles. This can lead to mothers experiencing a void where they feel that they do not have control over the mechanisms of their own family and take action to escape reality away from the gaze of modern society.

The children placed in emergency temporary care facilities, located in child guidance centers, often have quite complicated issues due to backgrounds of child abuse, and their average length of stay in care is increasing as well. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the changing characteristics and issued faced by these youth, and to emphasize the necessity of individualized support plans for each youth. The sample of youth used for analysis were youth of junior high school age or older placed in emergency temporary care of an anonymous child guidance center, who were discharged between a specified 1 year period, and whose length of stay fell between the range of a minimum of 2 months to a maximum of 1 year. Fourteen youth met these requirements and served as the subject of analysis. Using their temporary care records, information on each youth concerning issues, changes and reason for placement was obtained, categorized and analyzed. Additionally, each youth exhibited problems during their stay in temporary care which were classified into 4 categories. Furthermore, it was found that while in temporary care, new problems or changes pertaining to their reason for placement or discharge plans emerged, often related to their abuse experiences, family circumstances, and their relationship with other children/youth in care. The results suggest the need to provide individualized support plans for youth in temporary care.