Effects of child abuse and neglect: does social capital really matter?
OBJECTIVE
To explore whether social capital and social support moderate the relationship between child maltreatment and emotional and behavioral outcomes such as depression-anxiety and aggression in 6-year-old children.


METHODS
Data from Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect were used. Data were collected through interviews and questionnaires at the child's birth and at the age of 6 years.


METHODS
General community.


METHODS
Two hundred fifteen maternal caregivers of children at high risk for child abuse and neglect were included in this study.


METHODS
Depression-anxiety and aggression were measured through the Child Behavior Checklist.


RESULTS
Among 5 potential effect modifiers (3 social capital constructs and 2 measures of social support), only 1 (instrumental support) significantly modified the relationship between maltreatment and child aggression.


CONCLUSIONS
Social capital did not modify the relationship between child maltreatment and either aggression or depression-anxiety. This might be related to the fact that many previous studies looked at social capital ecologically, whereas this study uses individuals as the unit of analysis. The results of this study might also indicate that previous studies of social capital and health outcomes might actually be using social capital as a proxy for social support.
Saluja
Gitanjali
G
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Service, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. salujag@mail.nih.gov
Kotch
Jonathan
J
Lee
Li-Ching
LC
D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011632:Public Assistance; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D014481:United States