assessing the effects of neglect. washington post.2008
DESCRIPTION
The children's primary caregivers were interviewed when the children were 4, 6 and 8, and asked whether the youths displayed signs of aggression, such as destroying property or attacking or threatening others. The study, which appears in the April issue of Pediatrics, was funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. -- Sandra G. Boodman Tuesday, April 22, 2008; Page HE02TRANSCRIPT
Assessing The Effects Of NeglectTuesday, April 22, 2008; Page HE02
Physical abuse at a young age is linked to aggression later in childhood, but little is known about the impact of neglect.
Now a research team has found that neglect in the first two years of life may be a more important predictor of aggression before age 8 than physical abuse or neglect later in childhood.
The team, which included physicians from the medical faculties of the University of North Carolina and the University of Maryland, examined records of 1,318 children culled from local child protection agencies in four cities and one Southern state. All had come to the attention of authorities for suspected or actual abuse or neglect, which the law defines as a failure to provide food, clothing, shelter or adequate supervision.
The children's primary caregivers were interviewed when the children were 4, 6 and 8, and asked whether the youths displayed signs of aggression, such as destroying property or attacking or threatening others.
Their answers were analyzed and compared with data about aggressive behavior from a general population of children who did not have histories of abuse or neglect.
Analysis revealed that neglect before age 2 was a stronger predictor of later aggression than physical abuse in the first two years or neglect later in childhood.
Each year nearly 900,000 children annually experience abuse or neglect, noted the team, led by physician Jonathan B. Kotch of UNC Chapel Hill. Although child abuse receives more attention in the popular and professional media, neglect is more common, "has gone largely unstudied" and appears to be an important contributor to youth violence, researchers say.
"Neglect may have profound and long-lasting effects on the child, particularly if that neglect occurs early in the child's development," they conclude.
The study, which appears in the April issue of Pediatrics, was funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
-- Sandra G. Boodman
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/18/AR2008041802826.html?referrer=emailarticle