Maltreatment & Racism

What are the types of maltreatment?

1. Neglect

2. Physical Abuse

3. Emotional Maltreatment

4. Moral-legal educational abuse

5. Sexual abuse

*Note: They usually co-occur

Risk factors for Maltreatment

1. Ontogentic level: Parent’s developmental history of abuse

2. Microsystem: Being under 4, disabled, or male

3. Exosystem: Violence, crime, unstable housing, lack of social support, etc. 

4. Macrosystem: Corporal Punishment, poverty, privacy. 

Research on maltreatment has examined the predictors of maltreatment. This research demonstrates that:

caregivers experiencing high levels of stress (parenting stress or economic stress) are at higher risk for maltreating their children.

Protective Factors against Maltreatment

1. Stable housing & parental employment

2. Healthcare and social services

3. Other caring adults

National Survey of Child Adolescent Well-Being

Took a sample of children who were being investigated for childhood maltreatment. They found that infants were more likely to be adopted. Additionally, problems were more likely to occur when placements in foster care weren’t stable. Ultimately, the best outcomes were when children had a permanent placement in their home. 

National Survey of Children’s Health

<60% didn’t have a developmental screening and 40%-60% had a well-check with a provider. Shows us how important early intervention is.

Child Opportunity Index

Has 29 items to score the opportunities available to children, such as availability/quality of education, health/environment, and social/economic factors. The higher the number, the better opportunities there are for children.

Note: hispanic/latino and black kids often live in areas with a lower opportunity index compared to white/asian kids due to segregated neighborhoods. Lower COI is associated with more stress.

Effects of racism on kids

preterm birth, higher physiological activity from mothers’ prenatal exposure to racism,