A Person-Centered Approach of Heterogeneity in Neglect and Children's Internalizing Behaviors in the Context of Poverty

Approximately 4 million children under five years in the United States live poverty. Moreover, exposure to poverty is one of the strongest predictors of child neglect, which is the most prevalent form of maltreatment. Supporting evidence points to strong associations between physical and supervisory neglect and maladaptive behavioral outcomes in children. Despite this, child neglect is understudied compared to other maltreatment forms. Using data from longitudinal study (Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study; FFCWS) this study employed a latent class analytic approach (LCA), to examine: (1) risk classes of exposure to physical and supervisory neglect among children living in poverty, and (2) the variation of internalizing behaviors across latent classes of physical and supervisory neglect. The LCA enumeration process revealed three latent classes of physical and supervisory neglect (1) High Physical and Supervisory Neglect (5%), (2) High Physical Neglect (11%), and (3) Low physical and supervisory (84%). The results showed that maternal education and poverty levels predicated class membership. Additionally, anxious/ depressed and withdrawal symptoms behaviors varied across the classes with children in the High Physical and Supervisory Neglect class exhibiting the highest levels of internalizing behaviors across all classes. The findings demonstrate heterogeneity in the indicators of physical and supervisory neglect and the differential impacts on internalizing symptoms among children living in poverty. The study highlights important policy implications about the need for increased access to supports, for families living in poverty.