Childhood adversities have been linked to externalizing problems in adolescence. However, studies focusing on early adolescence are rare. Even less empirical attention has been given to the unique and joint influences of children's and maternal childhood adversity on children's externalizing behavior, particularly with a keen focus on the nature…

In a world where children are likely to experience early-life trauma, relationships matter, and trust is a key in forming healthy working relationships. Intentionally teaching adults and teachers how to evoke calmness in ourselves and breathe to handle negative situations, trusted educators can then teach children to do the same. It is important…

We tested special and general explanations of male adolescent sexual offending by conducting a meta-analysis of 59 independent studies comparing male adolescent sex offenders (n = 3,855) with male adolescent non-sex offenders (n = 13,393) on theoretically derived variables reflecting general delinquency risk factors (antisocial tendencies),…

Describes how intervention for families with abused or neglected adolescents usually focuses on the troubled youth with the abuse or neglect either overlooked or ignored. Argues that a developmental perspective is essential to the understanding and assessment of the family dynamics of adolescent mistreatment, and presents case examples. Offers…

This document presents an overview and progress report on the Family Research Project, started in 1974 to (1) study the relationship between family process and individual development of family members, especially children, (2) conceptualize and measure system level variables describing family structure and process, (3) develop microanalytic…

Methodological flaws have spoiled the literature that attempts to link maltreatment to juvenile delinquency. This article presents improved definitions and measuring procedures for maltreatment and delinquency. The empirical findings show that certain types of child abuse and neglect are related to delinquency but that other types of maltreatment…

Assessment of adult outcomes of 59 children from severely psychosocially dysfunctional families, who were placed in foster families for at least five years, found most had overcome their childhood adversities with 56% well-integrated socially and only 10% in situations of failure. Difficulties were linked to multiple family disturbances, traumatic…

Recent trends in litigation involving child custody, parental rights, foster care, and child abuse draw heavily on interpretations of developmental research and theory. In a recent landmark case, a developmentalist testified on a number of issues for which scant developmental data were found. These issues included neonatal bonding and the…

Growing numbers of children are being parentified; that is, they are sacrificing their childhoods and assuming a parental role to take care of family members and the family as a whole. Many of the issues and risks surrounding this process are explored in this book. The parentified phenomenon is frequently overlooked by therapists, although it is…

Studied 82 maltreating and normative families to determine whether reported maltreated children and their siblings differ in terms of maltreatment and/or developmental anomalies. Findings indicated reported abused children and their siblings were similar in stressful life experiences, quality of home environment, reported behavior problems, and…

Studies of emotional development in battered children, as well as more general psychological theory and research on personality development, are reviewed for the implications these findings might have for intervention and treatment. (Author/EB)

Sexual assault is a trauma that affects the entire family as well as the individuals involved. It is a social disease that alters human development and the ability to relate to others. Without treatment, the effects of abuse can progressively undermine and overwhelm all areas of both the abused individual's and the family's functioning. This book…

This book is devoted to the problems of family violence, child abuse, and child maltreatment, including the legal, social, psychological, and community issues. Articles contained in this volume are as follows: (1) "Child Maltreatment Research and Social Policy: The Neglected Nexus" (D. Cicchetti and S. Toth); (2) "Defining Child…

This collection of papers is drawn from a conference dedicated to children suffering from the harm associated with being born to neglecting families, a circumstance that has emerged as the most challenging phenomenon for the child welfare system. Papers consider the dimensions of the problem, treatment models, policy considerations, and recent…

Research examining the epidemiology and etiology of child abuse, parent and child characteristics, and the effects of maltreatment is reviewed. Unemployment, lower social class status, marital discord, and health problems are more common among abusive families. Increased knowledge improves the clinician's ability to intervene, treat, and prevent…