Linking the Onset Timing of Child Maltreatment to Behavioral Regulation During Early Childhood

• In Event: 3-199 - Toward a More Nuanced Understanding of Child Abuse and Neglect: Timing, Type, and Intervention Effectiveness

Integrative Statement

Introduction:
Child maltreatment is a leading risk factor for physical, cognitive, and socioemotional difficulties (NRC&IOM, 2009) during childhood and into adulthood, and occurrences prior to school age may be particularly detrimental (Font & Berger, 2016; Gilbert et al., 2009). Early childhood is a formative period for the development of emotional and behavioral regulatory skills that are particularly vulnerable to early stressors (Kim & Cicchetti, 2010). Early self-regulation is a building block for children’s later social and academic competence, yet little is known about the effects of maltreatment and its developmental timing on regulatory behaviors among children of young mothers. Such knowledge could inform prevention and intervention efforts to support the development of self-regulatory skills among maltreated children. The aim of the study was to investigate the relation between children’s maltreatment histories (presence and developmental timing of first report from birth to age six; M=6.23, SD=0.56) and children’s subsequent behavioral regulation at school age (M=7.78, SD=0.58). We also aimed to examine whether participation in a home visiting program moderated the relation. We hypothesized that earlier onset of maltreatment (infancy/toddlerhood) would have a more negative effect on children’s behavioral regulatory functioning at school age than later onset (preschool/school age), and that the intervention would moderate the effect of early maltreatment.
Method:
The sample consisted of 359 mother-infant dyads who participated in a randomized control trial (RCT) evaluation of a parent support home visiting program for first-time mothers (< 21 at childbirth). A little more than half of participating children (52.9%) were boys. Parents could receive services from pregnancy or early parenting until children’s third birthday. Data were collected in six waves (T1-T6) from infancy to age eight, using phone and home interviews, including standardized assessments. Child maltreatment reports were obtained from the Department of Children and Families. Children’s behavioral regulation was measured at T6 using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ; Goodman, 1997). OLS regression analyses were conducted regressing the outcome variable of SDQ (internalizing problems, externalizing problems, total difficulties) on timing of first report of maltreatment (no report, prior to program enrollment/infancy/toddlerhood, preschool/school-age). Control variables were maternal age at childbirth, maternal race/ethnicity, and child sex.
Results:
Children who had their initial maltreatment report during preschool/school-age scored worse on measures of total difficulties, internalizing, and externalizing behavior than children who were never maltreated. There were no differences between children who had their initial report prior to program enrollment or during infancy/toddlerhood and those children who had no report.
Conclusion:
Contrary to our hypothesis, current findings suggest that onset of maltreatment during early childhood may be more detrimental to young children’s behavioral regulation than onset occurring in the more distant past (infancy/toddlerhood). That is, the infant and toddler years are not the only “sensitive period” for the formation of self-regulation, and that adverse childhood experiences such as child maltreatment may affect developmental trajectories beyond the first three years. Follow-up analyses will test the moderating effect of a home visiting program to test whether the relation examined would differ across treatment and control groups.

Authors

• Chie Kotake, Tufts University
  Presenting Author

• Meera Menon, Tufts University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Lauren E Stargel, Tufts University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Ann Easterbrooks, Tufts University
  Non-Presenting Author