Abstract
Childhood maltreatment (CM) is a pervasive public health problem worldwide, with negative health consequences across the lifespan. Despite these adverse outcomes, identifying children who are being maltreated remains a challenge. Thus, there is a need to identify reliably observable features of parent–child interaction that indicate risk for CM and that can instigate strategically targeted family supports. The aim of this longitudinal study was to assess multiple aspects of observed mother–child interaction from infancy to late adolescence as risk indicators of the overall severity of CM by age 18. Mother–child dyads were assessed in infancy (N = 56), at age 7 years (N = 56), and at age 19 years (N = 56/110). Severity of CM through age 18 was indexed by combined prospective and retrospective assessments. Interactions associated with severity of CM by age 18 included maternal hostility in infancy, maternal withdrawal in infancy and middle childhood, child disorganized attachment behavior in middle childhood and late adolescence, as well as hostile and role-confused interactions in late adolescence. This study identifies new indices of maternal and child behavior as important risk indicators for the severity of CM. These indices could be used to improve early identification and tailor preventive interventions for families at risk for CM.
Highlights
Childhood maltreatment (CM), including emotional and physical abuse or neglect, witnessed domestic violence, and sexual abuse, has significant negative implications for child development [1].Despite elevated awareness of CM as a global problem, prevalence of CM continues to be high, ranging from 12–36% worldwide [2]
The identification of observable forms of child and parent interaction that are indicative of severity of CM can provide a set of risk indicators that can be reliably assessed across childhood, and that can qualify families for support and intervention early in the child’s development, whether or not CM itself is documented by social service workers
As recommended by recent studies [49,50], overall severity of CM from infancy to age 18 was coded from multi-method indices of maltreatment that included documented Child Protective Services (CPS) involvement, young-adult reported abuse, and coder-rated extent of maltreatment experiences derived from Adult Attachment Interviews (AAIs) administered in late adolescence
Summary
Childhood maltreatment (CM), including emotional and physical abuse or neglect, witnessed domestic violence, and sexual abuse, has significant negative implications for child development [1]. Because of the difficulties in identifying maltreatment in childhood [15], most research assessments of CM are self-report instruments administered in adulthood. The identification of observable forms of child and parent interaction that are indicative of severity of CM can provide a set of risk indicators that can be reliably assessed across childhood, and that can qualify families for support and intervention early in the child’s development, whether or not CM itself is documented by social service workers. The aim of the present study was to assess multiple aspects of observed maternal and child interaction from infancy to late adolescence in order to identify features of interaction that might serve as prospective or concurrent indicators of the overall severity of CM by age 18. Of particular interest was whether there are consistent aspects of parent–child interaction across development that are associated with overall severity of CM by age 18
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
