The Roles of Child Maltreatment Types and Peer Relationships on Behavior Problems in Early Adolescence

Background-and-Purpose:

Previous research has established that child maltreatment and peer relationships are strong predictors of adolescent internalizing (INT) and externalizing (EXT) behavior problems. However, less is known about the extent to which different types of maltreatment (i.e., physical, sexual, emotional abuse, and neglect) as well as different aspects of peer relationships (e.g., deviant peer affiliation, being ignored by peers) influence behavior problems in adolescence. Therefore, this study aims to examine both the independent and combined effects of different maltreatment types and peer relationships on behavior problems during early adolescence.

Methods:

Data for this study were drawn from the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect, which tracked the consequences of child maltreatment using five study sites across the US. The study sample includes 600 adolescents (52.2% female; 57.7% Black, 27.7% White, 5.2% Hispanic, 9.6% Other). Child maltreatment types were assessed using the Child Protective Services reports and youth self-reports. Deviant peer affiliation was assessed using a modified version of the Youth Risk Behavior and Monitoring the Future Survey, while being ignored by peers was assessed using a single question. Adolescent INT and EXT problems were also measured at age 12 using the Youth-Self-Report. Adolescents’ gender, race, household income, and caregivers’ education were used as covariates. The Generalized Estimating Equations approach was conducted to eliminate potential within-cluster effects (i.e., five study sites).

Results:

Adolescents who experienced emotional abuse had higher levels of INT (B = 2.38, SE_B = .84, p < .01) and EXT (B = 2.83, SE_B = .91, p < .01). Adolescents who were physically abused had higher levels of EXT (B = 2.18, SE_B = .89, p < .05). Youth who had higher levels of deviant peer affiliation had higher levels of INT (B = .62, SE_B = .22, p < .01) and EXT (B = 1.18, SE_B = .27, p < .001). In addition, youth who reported being ignored by peers had higher levels of INT (B = 2.29, SE_B = .51, p < .001) and EXT (B = 1.34, SE_B = .54, p < .05). The interaction between emotional abuse and deviant peer affiliation was significant for INT (B = -1.00, SE_B = .43, p < .05); emotionally abused youth who had higher levels of deviant peer affiliation had less INT, compared to emotionally abused youth with lower levels of deviant peer affiliation.

Conclusion-and-implications:

This study contributes to the existing literature by elucidating the roles of child maltreatment types and peer relationships on adolescent INT and EXT among high-risk youth. Adolescents who are emotionally or physically abused, affiliated with deviant peers, and ignored by peers are at heightened risk for behavior problems during adolescence, thus more targeted interventions should be directed towards this high-risk group. Additionally, this study found the lower levels of INT for emotionally abused youth who are affiliated with deviant peers. It is possible that emotionally abused youth have attachment problems, which may be alleviated by belonging to peer groups, despite affiliation with such peers. It implies the need for additional research.