Neglect is a common form of child maltreatment and profoundly affects children's mental health globally. Self-compassion may help children cope with neglect but the role of self-compassion in neglect ...context has been understudied. This study identifies distinct patterns of self-compassion and child neglect and explores how neglect and self-compassion profiles correlate with child mental health.
The sample includes 3342 children aged 8–16 (49.6 % female) from a national survey of 29 provinces in China using a multistage sampling method. We used latent profile analysis to identify distinct profiles of self-compassion and neglect and examine their combined effects on child mental health, including both positive indicators (hope, resilience) and negative indicators (anxiety, depression, academic burnout, and peer problems).
We identified four neglect/self-compassion profiles: Adaptable Self-Carers (average neglect/high self-compassion), Vulnerable Languishers (high neglect/low self-compassion), Stable Self-Soothers (low neglect/average self-compassion), and Opportune Thrivers (low neglect/high self-compassion). The Vulnerable Languishers group exhibited the poorest mental health outcomes, whereas the Opportune Thrivers showed the best outcomes. Adaptable Self-Carers, although experiencing more neglect than Stable Self-Soothers, had better mental health than the latter, possibly due to their greater self-compassion.
The cross-sectional design limits our ability to determine causality, and the use of self-reported measures increases response bias risk.
More self-compassion and less neglect are associated with more positive mental health outcomes. Moreover, self-compassion is a potential protective factor against the adverse effects of neglect on child mental health. Fostering self-compassion may boost positive adjustment in children who have experienced neglect.
•We used latent profile analysis to identify distinct profiles of self-compassion and child neglect and examine their combined effects on child mental health.•Higher levels of self-compassion and lower levels of neglect are associated with more positive mental health outcomes.•Self-compassion is a potential protective factor against the adverse effects of neglect on child mental health.•Our findings emphasize the importance of fostering self-compassion to boost positive adjustment in children who have experienced neglect.
•Case workers included young people’s subjective views in about half of their assessment reports on child protection cases.•Younger children were much less likely to have their views included than ...adolescents.•Confirming our hypothesis, young people from poor families had a much smaller chance to have their views included than their peers.•There is a strong need for improvement in the participation of children and youth in general, but specifically for younger children and offspring of impoverished families.
Decisions in child protection affect children’s and young people’s lives substantially and sustainably. For young people to participate in these decisions is an ethical requirement, prominently coded in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Although awareness of the importance of child participation and research thereon have grown, predictors of child participation have not been formalized in a conceptual model and studies on the topic have primarily relied on narrative accounts or fictional vignettes rather than actual case data. This article addresses the lack of conceptual modeling by presenting an approach that takes into account three domains of downstream predictors on the degree of child participation in the decision-making process of a child protection case: (a) External constraints; (b) professionals’ willingness and ability to facilitate the child’s participation; (c) the child’s willingness and ability to participate. It further addresses the lack of actual case data in child participation research, focusing on the understudied predictor of family poverty. Analyses are based on a sample of case files of n = 264 children in five Swiss CPS agencies. Outcomes and predictors were extracted from case files with a predefined coding system. Findings suggest that the raised awareness has so far not fully trickled down to an increase in real-life opportunities of participation for young people: The child’s subjective view was documented in the case worker’s report half of the time (48.9 %). Corroborating previous evidence, adolescents were much more likely to have their views included than younger children (OR = 3.715, p =.002). Case workers were less inclined to include the child’s views if the child came from a poor family (OR = 0.326, p =.003). We conclude by suggesting options for improving child participation, highlighting that protection of young people does not have to contradict participation.
Child abuse and neglect is a widespread social problem. The prevalence of this problem threatens the present and future of children. Although various prevention programs have been proposed in the ...literature as a solution to the problem of child abuse and neglect, recently, technological applications have been increasingly used in prevention and intervention studies for abuse and neglect. This study aims to review the current literature on technologically assisted programs for preventing child abuse and neglect. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline was used to identify eligible studies. 22 evidence-based studies with pretest-posttest control were included in the review. The reviewed programs were structured to educate parents, children, and various professionals on appropriate parenting skills and child abuse and neglect. In the studies reviewed, web/internet-based applications were mostly used and effectiveness evaluation studies were mainly conducted on parents. With the exception of one study, the programs were found to be effective following interventions for abuse and neglect, and cognitive and behavioral improvements were noted in parents, children, and other professionals. As a result, it can be said that technology-based prevention programs are accepted practices for child abuse and neglect. To date, however, there is little data to support the use of such studies in preventive practices and strategies. More studies are needed to test the effectiveness of technological applications in preventing abuse among children and adolescents.
Objective: Childhood trauma may contribute to lifelong health through chronic systemic inflammation. However, associations between childhood trauma and inflammation are mixed, indicating that ...distinct types of childhood trauma may relate to inflammation differently. Moreover, most studies use a single assessment of inflammatory markers that may not reliably estimate stable interindividual differences. The current study is the first to examine relationships between childhood trauma and an ecologically valid measure of inflammation derived from repeated assessments of interleukin (IL)-6 in daily life. We also examine the possibility that glucocorticoid sensitivity and patterns of daily cortisol may contribute to observed associations. Finally, we explore whether biological sex moderates relationships between childhood trauma and IL-6. Method: Participants were 283 healthy adults aged 40-64 (57% female, 23% Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) who completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and self-collected dried blood spots at home on 4 days to measure IL-6. Measures of salivary cortisol and blood-based glucocorticoid sensitivity were also assessed. Results: Childhood trauma was not associated with IL-6 in the sample as a whole. However, exploratory analyses showed that childhood trauma related to IL-6 differently for males and females, such that total trauma and emotional neglect predicted higher IL-6 for males but not females. Results persisted after adjustment for covariates. There was no evidence for indirect effects via cortisol or glucocorticoid sensitivity. Conclusions: Childhood trauma and, specifically, emotional neglect were associated with IL-6 in daily life among middle-aged males. Additional research is needed to elucidate biological and behavioral pathways underlying these associations.
Objetivo: El trauma infantil puede contribuir a la salud durante toda la vida a través de la inflamación sistémica crónica. Sin embargo, las asociaciones entre el trauma infantil y la inflamación son mixtas, lo que indica que distintos tipos de trauma infantil pueden relacionarse con la inflamación de manera diferente. Además, la mayoría de los estudios utilizan una única evaluación de marcadores inflamatorios que pueden no estimar de manera confiable las diferencias interindividuales estables. El estudio actual es el primero en examinar las relaciones entre el trauma infantil y una medida ecológicamente válida de inflamación derivada de evaluaciones repetidas de la interleucina (IL-6) en la vida diaria. También examinamos la posibilidad de que la sensibilidad a los glucocorticoides y los patrones de cortisol diario pueden contribuir a las asociaciones observadas. Finalmente, exploramos si el sexo biológico modera las relaciones entre el trauma infantil y la IL-6. Métodos: Los participantes fueron 283 adultos sanos de entre 40 y 64 años (57% mujeres; 23% Negros, Indígenas y Personas de Color) que completaron el Cuestionario de Trauma Infantil y recolectaron gotas de sangre seca en casa durante 4 días para medir la IL-6. También se evaluaron medidas de cortisol salival y sensibilidad a los glucocorticoides en sangre. Resultados: El trauma infantil no se asoció con IL-6 en la muestra en su conjunto. Sin embargo, los análisis exploratorios mostraron que el trauma infantil se relacionaba con la IL-6 de manera diferente para hombres y mujeres, de modo que el trauma total y la negligencia emocional predecían una mayor IL-6 para los hombres, pero no para las mujeres. Los resultados persistieron después del ajuste por covariables. No hubo pruebas de efectos indirectos a través del cortisol o la sensibilidad a los glucocorticoides. Conclusiones: El trauma infantil y la negligencia emocional en específico se asociaron con la IL-6 en la vida diaria entre los hombres de mediana edad. Se necesita investigación adicional para dilucidar las vías biológicas y de comportamiento subyacentes a estas asociaciones.
Public Significance Statement
The current study provides initial evidence for an association of childhood trauma with a reliable measure of systemic inflammation in adulthood, as measured over multiple days in participants' own environments. Recalled experiences of abuse and neglect were associated with higher average levels of inflammation among males but not females. Inflammation may be a pathway contributing to the increased health risk that is associated with childhood trauma.
To evaluate knowledge, attitude, and information sources about child abuse and neglect (CAN) among dentists in Varanasi district of Uttar Pradesh state, India.
A cross-sectional online survey was ...carried out of dentist working in government and private hospitals in the Varanasi district, Uttar Pradesh State, India (n = 674). The structured questionnaire was sent through electronic mail that contained the consent form, instructions for filling, and returning the questionnaire. The data obtained were systematically compiled and the Chi-square test was applied to test the association. The significance level of P ≤ 0.05 was applied.
A maximum number of dental practitioners from the government (81.97%) and private sector (85.98%) were aware of the child protection law. A significant number of government and private dental practitioners were satisfied with their knowledge (p = 0.0092); however, 83.79% suggested that the continuing education programs/courses were important tool to update their knowledge. The girl child was maximum sufferer (p = 0.0056) of CAN. Only 14.08% of practitioners acted on the suspected cases, and a statistical significant relation was observed between the government and private dental practitioners for not taking any action on child abuse and neglect (p = 0.0010).
Data from this study may provide a useful contribution to the current limited knowledge about the familiarity of dental practitioners with child maltreatment and their skills to recognize and manage CAN cases in their practice. The majority of dental practitioners knew about the child protection law in India, but they were reluctant to report such cases due to the fear of anger from the parents and family of the child. Continuing education programs/courses were the most preferred method for increasing the knowledge regarding CAN. They should report the CAN cases to local legislators and health authorities so to prevent child abuse and neglect from ever occurring.
Although children's right to participate in decisions that influence their lives is widely recognized, it is rarely present in the assessment and decision-making processes in child protective ...services (CPS).
The aim of this systematic review was to examine children's views and experiences of participating in CPS cases of child abuse and neglect and to identify the gap in scientific knowledge.
The systematic review follows the PRISMA statement and includes 13 peer-reviewed articles published in several academic journals from 2016 to 2023 reporting primary research with abused and neglected children registered in CPS.
Thematic analysis identified five main themes: participation: assessment and decision-making, information and understanding, interaction and relationships, children vs parents, and experience of younger children. The findings show that although a few children reported instances of meaningful participation, overall, children's participation was often reduced to a tokenistic engagement, with limited influence on the decision-making processes. Children, especially younger children, receive insufficient information and struggle to understand the proceedings. Examples of prioritizing parents' views, needs, and rights rather than centering the children's perspectives are reported.
The findings highlight a need for significant changes in how child participation is conceptualized and operationalized within CPS. Implications for practice, policy, and research are discussed to foster children's participation in CPS to contribute to the effective care and protection of children experiencing child abuse and neglect.
The present analysis relies upon data from three separate longitudinal studies to identify risk and protective factors associated with subsequent neglect during early childhood. All three studies ...(Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing FFCW; Healthy Families New York HFNY; Illinois Families Study-Child Wellbeing IFS) involve probabilistic samples or subsamples of low-income families with young children. Multivariate logistic regressions predicting official reports of investigated neglect allegations and a dichotomous indicator of neglect from the Parent–child Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS-PC) were conducted separately for each study, using common sets of predictors derived from baseline or initial survey waves. Across the three studies, consistencies emerged with respect to the predictors of both neglect outcomes. Specifically, consistencies emerged related to indicators of economic resources and hardships, parent well-being, and parenting. Understanding the predictors of child neglect is of critical importance to the development of child maltreatment prevention strategies since a clearer understanding of the risk and protective factors associated with neglect would enable more effectively targeted and tailored interventions.
► Prospective studies of child neglect are lacking. ► This hinders an understanding of predictors of child neglect. ► Three longitudinal studies are used to compare predictors of neglect outcomes. ► Consistencies emerge around economic, well-being, and parenting predictors.
AIMThe purpose of this review is to present the most recent bibliography regarding the etiology, risk factor indicators, types of dental neglect, and the epidemiological studies, showing the ...relationship between neglect and dental caries indices. Moreover, the review will focus on the role of oral healthcare professionals in evaluating such conditions. BACKGROUNDUntreated oral diseases, like dental caries, can lead to a variety of negative impacts on children including pain and infection. However, such complications can be prevented if a child's basic oral health needs are fulfilled. In addition, it is important to be aware that there are significant inequalities in accessing dental care and poverty, and such cases have to be distinguished from neglect. However, when there is adequate access to oral healthcare services and the parent or the guardian persistently fails to ensure appropriate medical care or treatment for his/her child, the possibility of dental neglect has to be seriously considered. REVIEW RESULTSDental neglect can be apart of a child's general neglect with short-term complications, such as caries, as well as long-term consequences that extend to adulthood, such as poor growth and impaired quality of life. CONCLUSIONEarly diagnosis of dental neglect plays an important role in avoiding adverse impacts on children. Signs and risk factors for dental neglect should alert the dental team in order to intervene in time and prevent suspected cases. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCEDiagnosis of dental neglect can be difficult. However, identifying dental neglect at an early stage and making a child protection referral may safeguard the child and prevent further harm. For this reason, dentists should be informed about dental neglect and they should know how to deal with these cases. Effective education is necessary to increase knowledge and awareness of all aspects of child neglect.
The present meta-analysis integrates research from 1,435 studies on associations of parenting dimensions and styles with externalizing symptoms in children and adolescents. Parental warmth, ...behavioral control, autonomy granting, and an authoritative parenting style showed very small to small negative concurrent and longitudinal associations with externalizing problems. In contrast, harsh control, psychological control, authoritarian, permissive, and neglectful parenting were associated with higher levels of externalizing problems. The strongest associations were observed for harsh control and psychological control. Parental warmth, behavioral control, harsh control, psychological control, autonomy granting, authoritative, and permissive parenting predicted change in externalizing problems over time, with associations of externalizing problems with warmth, behavioral control, harsh control, psychological control, and authoritative parenting being bidirectional. Moderating effects of sampling, child's age, form of externalizing problems, rater of parenting and externalizing problems, quality of measures, and publication status were identified. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.
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