Dimensions of child maltreatment and children's adjustment: Contributions of developmental timing and subtype

This investigation examined the dimensions of developmental timing, subtype , and severity of maltreatment and their relations with child adaptation. T he 814 children who participated in a summer day camp, 492 of whom were mal treated and 322 of whom were nonmaltreated comparison children, were assess ed by camp counselors on their internalizing and externalizing symptomatolo gy, aggressive, withdrawn, and cooperative behavior, and on personality dim ensions of ego resiliency and ego control, and were rated by peers on disru ptive, aggressive, and cooperative behavior. The severity within each subty pe of maltreatment and the developmental period in which each subtype occur red were examined through hierarchical regression analyses. Additionally, c hildren with similar timing or subtype patterns were grouped to explore div ersity in outcomes. Results highlighted the role of severity of emotional m altreatment in the infancy-toddlerhood period and physical abuse during the preschool period in predicting externalizing behavior and aggression. Seve rity of physical neglect, particularly when it occurred during the preschoo l period, was associated with internalizing symptomatology and withdrawn be havior. Additionally, maltreatment during the school-age period contributed significant variance after earlier maltreatment was controlled. Chronic ma ltreatment, especially with onset during infancy-toddlerhood or preschool p eriods, was linked with more maladaptive outcomes. The implications of meas uring multiple dimensions for improving research in child maltreatment are discussed.