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Abstract #154593

• Handout (free access)

Lara R. Robinson, Phd MPH¹, Neil Boris, MD², Sherryl Scott Heller, PhD³, Charles H. Zeanah, MD³, Cinda Clark, MSW⁴, and Shantice D. Hawkins, MPH⁵. (1) Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, 160 USB I, 820 N University Drive, University Park, PA 16802, 814-863-5664, lrr14@psu.edu, (2) Community Health Sciences, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal St., Ste. 2301, New Orleans, LA 70112-2715, (3) Department of Psychiatry and Neurology, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, 1440 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70112, (4) Department of Research and Evaluation, Surrey Place Centre, 2 Surrey Place, Toronto, ON M5S 2C2, Canada, (5) Department of Psychology, University of New Orleans, 2001 Geology and Psychology Building, New Orleans, LA 70148

Although the literature has shown that maltreated children experience more cognitive and social/emotional delays than their non-maltreated peers, the mechanisms underlying these differences are poorly understood. The goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between developmental outcomes and placement context by assessing children placed in out-of-home care before age 4 years old for state-verified maltreatment but who had been living in a stable placement for at least one year. Several hypotheses were proposed: (1) maltreated children will display more behavioral and emotional symptomatology and lower cognitive scores than non-maltreated children; (2) home environment variables will mediate outcomes for both maltreated and non-maltreated children, and (3) placement type will predict outcomes. Participants included 161 children, 78 maltreated and 83 non-maltreated, from ages 6 to 9 years. Results indicated that the maltreated children had lower cognitive scores, lower scores on the quality of their home environment, and more psychopathology; however, results indicated that it was elements of the home environment that accounted for some of the differences in psychopathology between these groups. Analyses within the maltreated placement groups suggest differences only on the quality of the home environment between biological/kin and adoptive placement groups. Results suggest the most important indicator of maltreated children's adjustment is the quality of their post-placement home environment. To mitigate the sequelae of maltreatment, intervention must continue beyond the placement of a child in a home and involve services aimed at building stronger family relationships and meeting basic needs that ensure healthy development.

Learning Objectives:

• 1) Discuss three of the unique risk factors that affect young maltreated children’s development
• 2) Identify the relationships between home environment variables and developmental disparities between maltreated and non-maltreated young children
• 3) Articulate the need for post placement services for young maltreated children

Keywords: Child Abuse, Child/Adolescent Mental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

• Handout (free access)