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Academic achievement despite child maltreatment: a longitudinal study
Carol Coohey1, Lynette M Renner, Lei Hua
1School of Social Work, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA.
Child Abuse & Neglect
|September 28, 2011
Summary
Child maltreatment negatively impacts academic achievement, but some children show resilience. Factors like chronic maltreatment and daily living skills influence scores, with behavior problems potentially offering protection in math.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Educational Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Child maltreatment is linked to negative academic outcomes.
- However, not all maltreated children experience academic decline; some exhibit resilience.
- Risk and resilience theories offer frameworks to understand this variability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate risk, promotive, and protective factors influencing academic achievement in maltreated children.
- To account for variations in test scores despite child maltreatment.
- To examine the longitudinal impact of maltreatment characteristics and environmental factors on learning.
Main Methods:
- A national longitudinal probability sample of 702 school-aged children (6-10 years) and their caregivers was utilized.
- Reading and math scores were tracked over a three-year period.
- Statistical analyses examined predictors of academic performance.
Main Results:
- Chronic maltreatment, poor daily living skills, and lower intelligence predicted math scores (39% variance).
- Type of maltreatment, poor daily living skills, and lower intelligence predicted reading scores (54% variance).
- Behavioral problems appeared to protect chronically maltreated children from lower math performance.
Conclusions:
- Preventing chronic maltreatment is crucial for improving academic achievement.
- Enhancing children's daily living skills is essential for academic success.
- Interventions should consider individual child characteristics and environmental factors.
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