NCJ Number
130606
Journal
Journal of Family Violence Volume: 6 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1991) Pages: 117-130
Date Published
1991
Length
14 pages
Annotation
The cognitive functioning of a group of 25 maltreated children was compared with a group of 25 nonmaltreated children. They were matched on age, mother's education, and occupation of the employed adult in the household with a group of 20 nonmaltreated comparison children from families representing a cross-section of social classes.
Abstract
Two comparison groups were employed to examine the role of maltreatment and socioeconomic status separately to determine which factor, if any, is associated with children's cognitive functioning. The investigation sought to expand on previous work by employing both global measures of cognitive functioning as well as measures designed to tap such specific abilities as selective attention and short-term memory. The maltreated children demonstrated deficits in cognitive functioning, but these deficits were no more pervasive than those found in children from the same low socioeconomic backgrounds. When maltreated children were compared to children from "average" families, the maltreated children demonstrated substantially lower levels of cognitive performance. The study findings suggest that it may be deprived family circumstances common in maltreating families, rather than maltreatment per se, that is responsible for the cognitive deficits often observed in maltreated children. 3 tables and 33 references (Author abstract modified)