THE MEDIATING EFFECT OF GOOD SCHOOL PERFORMANCE ON THE MALTREATMENT-DELINQUENCY RELATIONSHIP

This article explores the possibility that good school performance may reduce the elevated risk of delinquency produced by maltreatment. Usi ng a random sample of children with substantiated maltreatment reports (N = 522) and a random comparison sample of the general school popula tion (N = 256), the authors find that neglected and physically abused, but not sexually abused, children are more likely than the general sc hool population to be reported for delinquent acts. Good school perfor mance, specifically good grades, low rates of in-school behavior probl ems during the elementary years, and good attendance, is associated wi th substantially reduced delinquent involvement for both at-risk group s. For physically abused children the elevated risk falls to statistic ally insignificant levels. The findings suggest interventions to raise the grades and attendance and improve the classroom behavior of physi cally abused and neglected children with the aim of reducing delinquen cy in these groups.