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Why Should Child Welfare Pay More Attention to Emotional Maltreatment?
English, D.J., Thompson, R., Roller White & Wilson (2015) Children and Youth Services Review 50;53-63
A significant body of research indicates that emotional maltreatment (EMT) is harmful to children, resulting in long-term negative impacts on emotional and behavioral development. The child welfare system's focus on physical abuse, physical neglect, and sexual abuse has led a relative lack of attention to EMT. Reported rates of EMT vary widely across states – ranging from 0.2% to 44.9% in a recent national report on child maltreatment –indicating that it is not being measured consistently. This paper uses data collected by the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN) to (1) describe the nature and characteristics of emotional maltreatment experienced by 846 LONGSCAN youth across time, and (2) describe the relation between four subtypes of emo-tional maltreatment (psychological safety and security, acceptance and self-esteem, autonomy, and restriction) and child trauma symptoms and risk behaviors at age 18. Exposure to EMT was related to increased trauma symptoms and risky behaviors. EMT is common, identifiable, harmful, and potentially preventable; and a better understanding of it will help to inform the provision of effective child welfare and mental health services to children and their families. Findings suggest a need for greater understanding of parental behaviors, and the motivations behind them, that result in emotionally harmful outcomes for children, as well as a better under-standing of appropriate interventions for children who experience various types of EMT.
Toward a Definition of Neglect in Young Children
Dubowitz, H., Newton, R.R., Litrownik, A.J., Brings, E., Lewis, T., Thompson, R., English, D., Lee, L., Feerick, M (2005) Child Maltretment Vol. 10, No. 2. 173-189.
This study examined the relationship between child experiences identified conceptually as “neglectful” prior to age 4 and child outcomes at age 4. This was done using measures from two sites collected as part of LONGSCAN. Child needs were included within categories of physical and psychological safety and security. Problems with residence safety or cleanli-ness and untreated behavioral problems predicted child im-pairments in language. CPS reports of failure to provide shelter predicted impairments in several developmental out-comes. A stimulating home environment predicted less impairment in cognitive development. Multiple changes in residence predicted externalizing behavior problems. Expo-sure to verbally aggressive discipline predicted more behavioral problems overall. Conversely, some indicators (such as caregiver transitions and lack of medical care) predicted less developmental impairment or fewer behavior problems in certain domains. The approach supports a conceptualization of neglect based on child developmental needs. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.
At-Risk and Maltreated Children Exposed to Intimate Partner Aggression/Violence
English, D.J., Graham, J.C., Newton, R.R., Lewis, T.L., Thom pson, R., Kotch, J.B., & Weisbart, C. (2009) Child Maltreatment 14 (2), 157-171.
Despite increasing research on children’s exposure to intimate partner aggression/violence (IPAV), and co-occurrence of IPAV and maltreatment, little is known about IPAV in at-risk and maltreating families. We explored the nature of IPAV in 554 homes where children were identified as at risk or reported for maltreatment and examined differences between emotional and behavioral outcomes for children in homes where one or both intimate partners is the alleged perpetrator of IPAV. We found in this sample that IPAV primarily took the form of verbal aggression with differences in perpetrator gender for verbal, minor, and severe violence. There were few child outcomes predicted by perpetrator gender: Significant child behavior problems were found with all types of IPAV and both genders as perpetrators. Results suggest the need for comprehensive assessments of IPAV when assessing risk, safety, and harm issues for children reported as being at risk or victims of maltreatment.
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Diana J English - Child Welfare Consultation Services (CWCS)
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