In:
Development and Psychopathology, Cambridge University Press (CUP), Vol. 9, No. 1 ( 1997-03), p. 131-149
Abstract:
By adolescence, appraisal of one's past life experience
becomes critical to the stage-salient issue of identity formation. This study examined adolescents' perceptions of their
maltreatment experiences. It scrutinized the combined and unique contribution of five maltreatment types (i.e., physical abuse, sexual
abuse, psychological abuse, neglect, and exposure to family violence) to variance in adolescent adjustment. It was predicted that these
maltreatment types would account for significant variance in adjustment when controlling for the context variables of age, sex,
socioeconomic status, IQ, and stressful life events. Adolescents ( N = 160, aged 11–17) were randomly selected from the
open caseload of a child protection agency. Participants completed global severity ratings regarding their experiences of the five types
of maltreatment, as well as a battery of measures assessing self- and caretaker-reported externalizing and internalizing symptomatology. The
youths' maltreatment ratings significantly predicted self-reported adjustment, even when controlling for all context
variables. Psychological maltreatment was the most predictively potent maltreatment type, and enhanced the predictive utility of other
maltreatment types. Significant sex differences in the sequelae of perceived maltreatment were evident. Also, interactions between
youths' ratings and those obtained from CPS files were detected. The findings were consistent with recent research in child
maltreatment, and contribute to our understanding of developmental psychopathology among adolescents.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0954-5794
,
1469-2198
DOI:
10.1017/S0954579497001107
Language:
English
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Publication Date:
1997
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1501055-7
SSG:
5,2
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