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The Effects of Physical Abuse on Children's Social Relationships
Author(s) -
Salzinger Suzanne,
Feldman Richard S.,
Hammer Muriel,
Rosario Margaret
Publication year - 1993
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.1467-8624.1993.tb02902.x
Subject(s) - psychology , developmental psychology , social environment , context (archaeology) , interview , peer group , reciprocity (cultural anthropology) , poison control , human factors and ergonomics , interpersonal relationship , injury prevention , association (psychology) , social psychology , medicine , paleontology , environmental health , political science , law , psychotherapist , biology
Social behavior and peer status of 87 physically abused 8–12‐year‐old urban children were compared with those of 87 case‐matched nonmaltreated classmates. Peer nominations and peer ratings were collected in classrooms, social networks were assessed by child interview, family variables were assessed by interviewing mothers, and behavior problems were rated by parents and teachers. Significant findings were that abused children had lower peer status and less positive reciprocity with peers chosen as friends; they were rated by peers as more aggressive and less cooperative and by parents and teachers as more disturbed; and their social networks showed more insularity, atypicality, and negativity. Social behavior as perceived by peers accounted for a significant portion of the variance in social status; global disturbance measures did not add to this association. Results are discussed in terms of a context of family violence in the development of social maladjustment.