Memory, maternal representations, and internalizing symptomatology among abused, neglected, and nonmaltreated children.
A depth-of-processing incidental recall task for maternal-referent stimuli was utilized to assess basic memory processes and the affective valence of maternal representations among abused (N = 63), neglected (N = 33), and nonmaltreated (N = 128) school-aged children (ages 8-13.5 years old). Self-reported and observer-rated indices of internalizing symptoms were also assessed. Abused children demonstrated impairments in recall compared to neglected and nonmaltreated children. Although abused, neglected, and nonmaltreated children did not differ in valence of maternal representations, positive and negative maternal schemas related to internalizing symptoms differently among subgroups of maltreated children. Valence of maternal schema was critical in differentiating those with high and low internalizing symptomatology among the neglected children only. Implications for clinical intervention and prevention efforts are underscored.
Valentino
Kristin
K
University of Rochester, USA. kristin.valentino@yale.edu
Cicchetti
Dante
D
Rogosch
Fred A
FA
Toth
Sheree L
SL
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000339:Affect; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology*; D002657:Child Development; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009341:Negativism; D009518:New York; D002666:Psychology, Child; D012094:Repression, Psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires