SCHOOL-AGE AND ADOLESCENT CHILDRENS PERCEPTIONS OF FAMILY FUNCTIONINGIN NEGLECTFUL AND NON-NEGLECTFUL FAMILIES

Objective: Examined the question, do neglected children's perceptions of their own family's functioning acknowledge the differences that exi st between neglectful and non-neglectful families? Method: An inter-ra ter consistency design was used; child and caseworker reports of famil y functioning in neglectful (n = 33) and non-neglectful families (n = 34) were compared. Results: After establishing significant differences between the socioemotional and physical environment provided by negle ctful and non-neglectful families, the results indicated that children from neglectful families perceived a higher level of quality in famil y functioning that was not reported by caseworkers or supported by oth er measures. Conclusions: Implications for designing effective interve ntions for school-age and adolescent children from neglectful families are discussed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.