Disrupted Parental Behavior, Child Attachment Disorganization and Child Psychopathology in Families Reported for Child Maltreatment

• In Event: Poster Session 04
  In Poster Session: PS 04 Topic - Parenting & Parent-Child Relationships

Abstract

Maltreated children are at risk of showing a diversity of problems, such as attachment disorganization to the parent and symptoms of psychopathology. Disrupted parental behavior (DPB) – defined as parental communication errors, dissociative like behaviors, hostile, or withdrawn behaviors – has been observed in at risk parents and findings show associations with child attachment disorganization and behavior problems (Madigan et al., 2006, 2007). Such behaviors are considered as frightening or threatening for they involve children in odd, anomalous or conflictual dyadic interactions with the caregiver (Main & Hesse, 1990). Thus far, we know that DPB is more prevalent in parents with a history of childhood abuse, but DPB has never been examined in relation to the socio-emotional functioning of maltreated children. DPB may likely precede substantiated forms of maltreating behavior and thus deserve to be more fully understood in the context of maltreatment. Knowledge on DPB may also potentially inform intervention efforts with maltreating parents. Hence, this study aims to examine the associations among DPB, child psychopathology, child attachment and types of maltreatment in young families who were reported for maltreatment to child protective services (CPS).

The sample comprises 70 maltreated children (1-5 years old) and their parents reported for maltreatment and/or neglect to CPS. At intake all parents were about to being a parenting capacity assessment led by CPS practitioners to ascertain whether the child should remain or removed from parental care. Child attachment and DPB were evaluated by independent coders with the very well-validated Strange situation procedure (Ainsworth et al., 1978) and the Atypical Maternal Behavior Instrument for Assessment and Classification (AMBIANCE, Bronfman et al., 1999), respectively. Parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist (Achenbach & Rescorla, 2001) in order to examine child’s behavioral problems and psychopathology and children’s CPS files were consulted to obtain information on maltreatment types.

Results indicate that parents with higher DPB were more likely to have a child with disorganized attachment (F(3,67)=3.35,p <.05). Higher DPB was also associated to more child internalizing (B=1.76, p=.02) and externalizing (B=2.36, p=.01) problems; and more ADHD (B=1.19, p=.01), pervasive developmental (B=2.15, p=.01), oppositional defiance (B=1.00, p=.04) and affective (B=0.89, p=.03) disorders’ symptoms. Parents with higher DPB were more likely to be reported for neglect (B=0.06, p=.02) compared to other types of maltreatment. Results further our understanding of DPB and show and of its potential consequences on indicators of child dysfunction, such as disorganized attachment, behavioral problems and psychopathology. The discussion will focus on the clinical utility of DPB in the assessment protocols of CPS practitioners.

Authors

• Valerie Langlois, University of quebec in montreal
  Presenting Author

• Laurence Cyr-Desautels, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
  Non-Presenting Author

• Solene Cognard-Bessette, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
  Non-Presenting Author

• Chantal Cyr, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
  Non-Presenting Author