TY - JOUR PY - 2003// TI - Maltreatment and Family Dysfunction in Childhood and the Subsequent Adjustment of Children and Adults JO - Journal of family violence A1 - Higgins, Daryl J. A1 - McCabe, Marita P. SP - 107 EP - 120 VL - 18 IS - 2 N2 - The adjustment problems associated with sexual abuse, physical abuse, psychological maltreatment, neglect, and witnessing family violence during childhood were examined in three studies. Study 1 demonstrated significant overlap between maltreatment types in parent reports (N = 50) of maltreatment experiences of their child aged 5-12 years. Parental sexual punitiveness, traditionality, family adaptability and family cohesion significantly predicted scores on 4 maltreatment scales and children's externalizing behavior problems. Level of maltreatment predicted internalizing, externalizing, and sexual behavior problems. In Study 2, significant overlap was found between adults' retrospective reports (N = 138) of all 5 types of maltreating behaviors. Parental sexual punitiveness, traditionality, family adaptability, and family cohesion during childhood predicted the level of maltreatment and current psychopathology. Although child maltreatment scores predicted psychopathology, childhood family variables were better predictors of adjustment. Study 3 demonstrated that child maltreatment scores predicted positive aspects of adult adaptive functioning (N = 95).

LA - en SN - 0885-7482 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1022841215113 ID - ref1 ER -