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Examining the Overlap and Prediction of Multiple Forms of Child Maltreatment, Stressors, and Socioeconomic Status: A Longitudinal Analysis of Youth Outcomes

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Abstract

Analyses were conducted to examine the extent of overlap and predictive strength of multiple forms of child maltreatment and stressors internal and external to the family. Findings suggest a strong association between child maltreatment (physical and sexual abuse, neglect, and exposure to domestic violence) and stressors (family conflict, personal problems of parents, and external constraints on the family). After controlling for stressors, family socioeconomic status, and child gender, a general construct of child maltreatment was predictive of internalizing and externalizing behaviors in adolescents. Specific effects of child physical and sexual abuse were revealed in these longitudinal structural equation model tests.

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Notes

  1. CFI values over .90 indicate an adequate fit to the data (Browne and Cudeck 1993); RMSEA values below 0.08 indicate acceptable model fit (Newcomb 1990; 1994).

  2. Results of the CFA showed non-significant correlations among these variables; a preliminary test of the model structure with stressors added as a predictor showed results incompatible with those of the CFA (e.g., reversal of the sign of the correlation) likely due to a particularly strong association between the stressors and child maltreatment latent constructs; thus, the most parsimonious and accurate representation of the data is a achieved with the estimated model.

  3. Note: the correlations between gender and other exogenous variables are not shown to simplify the figure, but they are estimated in the model.

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Acknowledgment

Support for this project (1 R01 HD049767-01A2) is co-funded by The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and The Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR).

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Correspondence to Todd I. Herrenkohl.

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Herrenkohl, T.I., Herrenkohl, R.C. Examining the Overlap and Prediction of Multiple Forms of Child Maltreatment, Stressors, and Socioeconomic Status: A Longitudinal Analysis of Youth Outcomes. J Fam Viol 22, 553–562 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-007-9107-x

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