Psychosocial and Cognitive Functioning of Children with Specific Profiles of Maltreatment

• NCJ Number: 225021
• Journal: Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 32 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2008 Pages: 958-971
• Author(s): Katherine C. Pears; Hyoun K. Kim; Philip A. Fisher
• Date Published: October 2008
• Length: 14 pages
• Grant Number(s): R01 MH059780; R21 MH065045; R01 DA021424
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse; National Institute of Mental Health
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study employed a latent profile analysis to identify naturally occurring subgroups of children who had experienced maltreatment.

Abstract

The study demonstrated that overall, it is possible to quantitatively account for multiple types and dimensions of child maltreatment. Findings indicate that it is possible to discern meaningful maltreatment profiles that differ in terms of both maltreatment type and severity. This underscores the co-occurrence of different types of maltreatment and the importance of considering multiple dimensions of maltreatment in research into this phenomenon and its sequelae. It also presents the possibility that the mechanisms by which maltreatment impact children can vary across groups. Additionally, there are a number of implications for the treatment of maltreated children; the severity rather than simply the presence of sexual abuse determined level of psychosocial difficulties. It was not the presence of physical or sexual abuse that determined level of psychosocial and cognitive difficulties. Rather the severity of such maltreatment, its co-occurrence with other maltreatment types, and the severity of those types predicted to differential outcomes. This suggests that when recommending treatments and services for a child, practitioners and child welfare workers need to be cognizant of the child’s maltreatment profile to tailor interventions to the needs of the child. This and future efforts to identify maltreatment profiles might aid in better understanding the mechanisms by which maltreatment affects adjustment, thus allowing for refinements in treatments and policy and better allocation of resources for these high-risk children and families. Data were collected from reports of maltreatment incidents for 117 preschool-aged foster children, classified along 2 dimensions: type (physical abuse, sexual abuse, physical neglect, supervisory neglect, or emotional maltreatment) and severity within type. Tables, figures, and references