Affective, organizational, and relational characteristics of maltreating families: A systems perspective

In-home structured interactions of 42 maltreating families (neglect: n = 12 ; physical abuse: n = 19; sexual abuse: n = 11) and 23 low-income compariso n families with preschool-aged children were examined to determine whether maltreating and nonmaltreating families could be distinguished by system-le vel processes. Coding from videotapes of family interactions yielded rating s for affective, organizational, and relational features of each family uni t. Results from family coding demonstrated that sexually abusive families h ad significantly more difficulties regulating anger, evidenced more chaos a nd less role clarity and relied less on adaptive-flexible relationship stra tegies than nonmaltreating families. The importance of family climate and s tructure, above and beyond individual maltreatment acts, are highlighted. T reatment and social policy implications and directions for future research in the family study of child maltreatment are discussed.