The consequences of child abuse for the formation of relationships with peers

Abstract

The peer interaction of 26 physically abused children was observed and compared to the peer interaction of normal children (n = 26), neglected children (n = 4) and children referred to a child guidance clinic (n = 21). The children were either enrolled in a day-care intervention program and observed in well-established peer groups or not enrolled in peer-based intervention and observed in newly formed peer groups. The hypothesis that abused children who were enrolled in day-care intervention programs would be more competent in peer interaction than abused children who were observed in newly formed groups and not enrolled in peer-based intervention programs was supported. The peer interaction of abused children in well-established groups was similar to that of normal children and more skillful than that of abused and clinic children in newly formed groups. Normal children engaged in similar peer interaction in newly formed and well-established groups. The results are discussed in terms of the social support network provided by the day-care intervention and missing in the family environment of abused children.