This study examined the psychosocial characteristics of cases of child
maltreatment labelled as ''not serious enough.'' The sample consisted
of cases of suspected physical abuse (N = 48), neglect (N = 13), and
psychological maltreatment (N = 8) identified by teachers, and a nonab
used comparison group (N = 283). Characteristics of children and their
parents were evaluated at three ecological levels: individual, family
, and social. Results indicated a poor personal and social adjustment
of the children in the maltreatment groups, and suggest that the defin
ition of cases of maltreatment as not serious enough does not represen
t the psychological reality of these children. Discriminant analysis i
ndicated that the most important variables for discriminating between
all maltreatment groups and the nonabuse group were parents and childr
en's perceptions of parental behavior, children's behavioral problems
and personal adjustment, parents integration and satisfaction in the c
ommunity, and the importance and direction of personal growth emphasiz
ed in the family. The importance of other variables such as socioecono
mic status, stress, psychological symptoms or number of children appea
red to be a function of the different types of child maltreatment. The
importance of prevention and intervention efforts before the maltreat
ment reaches a serious stage is discussed.