Relation of Emotional Maltreatment to Early Adolescent Competence: Developmental Processes in a Prospective Study

• NCJ Number: 226370
• Journal: Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 33 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2009 Pages: 36-44
• Author(s): Anne Shaffer; Tuppett M. Yates; Byron R. Egeland
• Date Published: January 2009
• Length: 9 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined developmental pathways between childhood emotional maltreatment and adaptational outcomes in early adolescence.

Abstract

The study found that both emotional neglect and emotional abuse were associated with increased aggression and social withdrawal in middle childhood and lower ratings of socioemotional competence in early adolescence; however, the mediational model, which controlled for gender and concurrent physical and sexual maltreatment, was only significant for the contribution of emotional abuse to lower adolescent competence through social withdrawal in middle childhood. This association was only significant for boys. This study adds to the accumulating empirical evidence that the effects of emotional maltreatment are disabling and enduring, requiring assessment by clinicians. The assessment for emotional maltreatment should specify the particular form of emotional maltreatment that has occurred, since the results of this study indicate that developmental processes and adjustment outcomes may vary according to the type of emotional maltreatment (i.e., emotional abuse, emotional neglect) that is experienced. Clinicians should also recognize that a single maltreatment type may vary in its impact on subsequent adjustment, since significant gender differences emerged in the current study that indicate the role of individual differences. The study sample was drawn from a longitudinal, prospective study of a high-risk community sample (n=196). The study used a developmental psychopathology perspective in adopting a multidimensional approach to the assessment of different forms of emotional maltreatment and later adjustment outcomes. Emotional abuse (i.e., verbal criticism, hostility) and emotional neglect (i.e., psychological unavailability) were compared by using a process-level analytical approach in examining if and how various forms of emotional maltreatment would contribute to adolescent adjustment via aggression and social withdrawal in middle childhood. 2 tables, 2 figures, and 43 references