title: Maltreatment and Emotional and Behavioral Problems in Chinese Children With and Without Oppositional Defiant Disorder: The Mediating Role of the Parent-Child Relationship.
abstract: Maltreatment has negative effects on the parent-child relationship and the emotional and behavioral development of children. The current study aimed to examine the associations among maltreatment, parent-child relationship, and emotional and behavioral problems in Chinese children with or without oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). Participants in the study included 259 children with ODD and their 269 non-ODD counterparts from northern, eastern, and southwestern China. We also collected data from their teachers and fathers or mothers. The results showed that ODD children suffered more maltreatment and had more emotional and behavioral problems than their non-ODD peers. For all children (both ODD and non-ODD children), emotional abuse predicted emotional problems but not behavioral problems. Physical abuse predicted behavioral problems but not emotional problems. Parent-child relationship mediated the effects of emotional abuse and physical abuse on emotional problems among ODD children but not among non-ODD children. Implications for prevention of emotional and physical abuse and ODD in the Chinese cultural context are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Longfeng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China linxy@bnu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xiuyun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: University of Macau, Macau, China.
authors.forename: Peilian
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.affiliation: Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Melissa Allen
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Heath
authors.affiliation: Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: University of Macau, Macau, China.
authors.forename: Hongfei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: China Women's University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zhonghui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002681:China; D004644:Emotions; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D000066553:Problem Behavior
keywords: behavioral problem; child maltreatment; emotional problem; oppositional defiant disorder; parent–child relationship