Maltreatment and family dysfunction in childhood and the subsequent adjustment of children and adults

The adjustment problems associated with sexual abuse, physical abuse, psychological maltreatment, neglect, & witnessing family violence during childhood were examined in three studies. Study 1 demonstrated significant overlap between maltreatment types in parent reports (N = 50) of maltreatment experiences of their child aged 5-12 years. Parental sexual punitiveness, traditionality, family adaptability, & family cohesion significantly predicted scores on 4 maltreatment scales & children's externalizing behavior problems. Level of maltreatment predicted internalizing, externalizing, & sexual behavior problems. In Study 2, significant overlap was found between adults' retrospective reports (N = 138) of all 5 types of maltreating behaviors. Parental sexual punitiveness, traditionality, family adaptability, & family cohesion during childhood predicted the level of maltreatment & current psychopathology. Although child maltreatment scores predicted psychopathology, childhood family variables were better predictors of adjustment. Study 3 demonstrated that child maltreatment scores predicted positive aspects of adult adaptive functioning (N = 95). 5 Tables, 50 References. Adapted from the source document.