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Social Interactions and Peer Perceptions of Young Physically Abused Children
Author(s) -
Haskett Mary E.,
Kistner Janet A.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-8624.1991.tb01584.x
Subject(s) - psychology , peer group , developmental psychology , sociometry , poison control , perception , suicide prevention , injury prevention , peer victimization , peer relations , human factors and ergonomics , child abuse , clinical psychology , medicine , environmental health , neuroscience
14 3‐6‐year‐old children with a history of physical abuse and a closely matched comparison group of 14 nonabused children, all of whom had been in day‐care for more than a year, participated in this investigation. Behavior observations, teacher reports, and peer sociometric ratings were used to evaluate children's peer interactions. It was found that abused children initiated fewer positive interactions with peers and exhibited a higher proportion of negative behavior than nonabused comparison children. Peers viewed abused children as less well liked. Further, peers were less likely to reciprocate the initiations of abused children, although they approached abused children as often as they approached comparison children. Teachers viewed abused children as more behaviorally disturbed. Overall, results indicated that abused children experience disturbed social interactions outside the home environment, despite involvement in a day‐care setting that provides alternative peer and adult role models.