Clinical and laboratory observation
Antecedents of child neglect in the first two years of life*

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3476(05)80912-6Get rights and content

To determine the prenatal antecedents of child neglect by low-income women, data from a prospective study of child maltreatment were reviewed. Mothers determined to be at high risk prenatally for maltreatment were more likely to be identified as neglectful within 24 months of the interview. Neglectul mothers were less likely to have completed high school, had more children younger than 6 years of age, and had more aberrant responses on parenting skills and support systems scales. Neglected children were lower in birth weight, were rated more difficult temperamentally, and had poorer mental and motor developmental scores.

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    Research on the correlates of child maltreatment in infancy and early childhood has shown a number of factors to be associated with abuse and neglect, including maternal age (Lee & Goerge, 1999; Slack, Holl, McDaniel, Yoo, & Bolger, 2004; Strathearn, Mamun, Najman, & O'Callaghan, 2009), family size and structure Brayden, Altemeier, Tucker, Dietrich, & Vietze, 1992; Epstein, 2002; Kotch et al., 1995; Kotch, Browne, Dufort, Winsor, & Catellier, 1999; Lee & Goerge, 1999; Windham, Rosenberg, Fuddy, McFarlane, Sia, & Duggan, 2004; Wu et al., 2004), parental education (Brayden et al., 1992; Hunter, Kilstrom, Kraybill, & Loda, 1978; Kotch et al., 1995, 1999; Slack et al., 2004; Strathearn et al., 2009; Wu et al., 2004), income and poverty (Lee & Goerge, 1999); public benefit receipt (Kotch et al., 1995, 1997; Wu et al., 2004), maternal employment (Slack et al., 2004); maternal mental health and substance abuse (Brayden et al., 1992; Christensen, Brayden, Dietrich, McLaughlin, & Sherrod, 1994; Epstein, 2002; Jaudes & Mackey-Bilaver, 2008; Kotch et al., 1995, 1999; Strathearn et al., 2009; Windham et al., 2004; Wu et al., 2004), social support (Brayden et al., 1992; Dukewich, Borkowski & Whitman, 1996; Hunter et al., 1978; Kotch et al., 1997, 1999); domestic violence (McGuigan & Pratt, 2001; Windham et al., 2004), parenting efficacy or stress (Brayden et al., 1992; Dukewich, Borkowski, & Whitman, 1996; Slack et al., 2004), and child health and behaviors (Brayden et al., 1992; Dukewich, Borkowski & Whitman, 1996; Hunter et al., 1978; Kotch et al., 1999; Wu et al., 2004). Several of these referenced studies involve prospective research designs with community- or population-based samples, as well as neglect-specific outcome measures (Brayden et al., 1992; Christensen et al., 1994; Epstein, 2002; Jaudes & Mackey-Bilaver, 2008; Kotch et al., 1995, 1999; McGuigan & Pratt, 2001; Slack et al., 2004; Wu et al., 2004). However, the specific measures employed across studies, coupled with other differences in study design, make it difficult to compare findings in a systematic way.

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Supported by the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect; the Children's Bureau Administration on Children, Youth, and Families; the Office of Human Development Services, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (grants 90-C-419 and 90-CA-2138); and the National Institute of Mental Health (grant R01 MH31195-01).

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