Child Maltreatment and Peer Relationship Quality: Types and Timing of Maltreatment and Gender Differences

Background/Purpose: Child maltreatment is a well-known risk factor for peer relationship problems in adolescence. However, prior research investigating the association between child maltreatment and peer relationship has rarely considered the 1) types and timing of child maltreatment; 2) different aspects of peer relationship quality (i.e., companionship, conflict, satisfaction, and intimacy); and 3) gender differences. Thus, this study addressed the following research questions: 1) Do types (i.e., physical, sexual, emotional abuse, as well as neglect) and timing of child maltreatment (i.e., early childhood [ages 0-5], middle childhood [ages 6-11], and adolescence [ages 12-18]) predict adolescent peer relationship quality? and 2) Do these associations vary by gender?

Methods: This study involved 851 adolescents (56.1% female, 56.2% Black, and 26.8% low income) drawn from the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN). Peer relationship quality was assessed at age 18 using the Networks of Relationship Inventory. To measure types and timing of child maltreatment, trained LONGSCAN coders reviewed the Child Protective Services records and coded maltreatment allegation using the Modified Maltreatment Classification System. Based on the type and timing of child maltreatment coding, 12 dichotomous maltreatment variables were generated (e.g., physical abuse in early childhood, neglect in adolescence). For gender, adolescent self-reported. As for covariates, adolescents’ race, household income, and internalizing and externalizing symptoms were included. Four Ordinary Least Squares multiple regression analyses were conducted using SPSS v. 28. Multiple imputation was used to handle missing data.

Results: Physical abuse in adolescence was associated with higher levels of conflict (B = .69, p = .040), while physical abuse in middle childhood was associated with lower intimacy (B = -.76, p = .035). Sexual abuse in adolescence had less satisfaction (B = -.91, p = .012). In addition, neglect in adolescence was associated with lower companionship (B = -.70, p = .020). We also found three significant interaction effects of gender. Males who experienced sexual abuse in adolescence had less companionship (B = -3.74, p = .016) and satisfaction (B = -4.50, p < .001), compared to females who experienced sexual abuse in adolescence. Additionally, males who experienced emotional abuse in early childhood had less satisfaction in peer relationships, compared to female experienced emotional abuse in early childhood (B = -.83, p = .039).

Conclusion:

This study contributes to the existing literature by 1) expanding the role of child maltreatment in adolescent peer relationship quality; 2) considering different aspects of peer relationship quality; and 3) examining gender differences. Overall, maltreatment (specifically physical and sexual abuse and neglect) in adolescence was associated with poorer peer relationships, highlighting adolescence as a critical window for prevention and intervention for high-risk youth. Additionally, physical abuse in middle childhood was associated with lower intimacy. These findings suggest an urgent need for maltreatment prevention efforts targeting school-aged children and adolescents. Further, three interaction effects suggest the negative effects of maltreatment on peer relationship quality may be stronger for males than females Thus, practitioners could tailor gender-sensitive interventions for high-risk males with a history of maltreatment.