NCJ Number
215996
Journal
Child Maltreatment Volume: 11 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2006 Pages: 49-62
Date Published
February 2006
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This article reports on a literature review that examined research whose findings showed how the effects of child maltreatment might be influenced by the contexts in which the abused children developed, including their families, peer groups, schools, and communities.
Abstract
The review found that contextual factors not only influenced the incidence of child maltreatment but also might moderate the development of adverse effects of the maltreatment, thereby accounting for some of the variety in outcomes linked with child abuse and neglect. Social support, for example, may be both a moderator and mediator of the effects of child maltreatment; it can be a moderator by affecting the relationship between maltreatment and the adjustment of the abused child; and it can be a mediator because the maltreatment itself may affect the child's level of social support, which may in turn more directly affect the child's adjustment. Studies that have examined the influence of parenting practices have found that one of the best predictors of child outcome is the response to the maltreatment of the child's nonoffending parent. Factors related to poorer developmental outcomes for maltreated children are impoverished families, parental substance abuse, the family's frequent moving, school maladjustment, negative peer relationships, and community environments that expose children to adverse events and experiences. On the other hand, the effects of maltreatment are reduced when children experience a supportive, understanding, mentally healthy relationship with a nonoffending parent; a satisfying and achieving adjustment in school; positive experiences with peers; and constructive community influences. Methodological suggestions are offered for conducting research that pertains to how contextual factors can influence outcomes from the effects of child maltreatment. 119 references