THE IMPACT OF MALTREATMENT

ON CHILD DEVELOPMENT: ISSBD 2024

COMPARING A GROUP OF VICTIMS AND NON-VICTIMS

OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT
Liz-Otero, 1
Maite & Vásquez-Echeverría, Alejandro
Acknowledgments: This study was carried out thanks to a PhD scholarship from the Graduate Academic Committee (UdelaR, Uruguay).

 Child abuse and neglect (CA&N) is a global health challenge METHOD: Type of Sexual
related to lower scores in cognitive and socioemotional Neglect Abuse
development[1-2-3]. n = 856; (Mage= 5,1 years) CA&N:
25% 19%
 South America exhibits some of the highest rates of severe
childhood maltreatment[4-5]. Physical Emotional
 Agency-reported CA&N (SIPIAV) Violence
Violence
OBJECTIVE: 19% 37%
 School-Readiness Child development (INDI)
To provide evidence of the effect of various types of
maltreatment on child development within a
 One-to-one multivariate matching:
population-based sample of Uruguayan preschoolers,
compared to a matched control sample. wave, sex, age, grade, school (SES, type of school, classroom, teacher)

Mean scores’ differences in INDI developmental domains

 Culturally-designed, validated for Uruguay RESULTS: between maltreated and control groups (N=856).
 Public policy since 2018 (Preschool 3-4-5)

Language
Prosocial behaviors
Logical-Mathematical
Internalizing behaviors
Self-projection
Cognitive Socioemotional Externalizing behaviors
Executive functioning Development
Development

No subscales
No subscales
(motivation, routines,
(fine and gross motor skills)
Motor Attitudes creativity, habits)
Development towards learning

T-tests for mean scores’ differences in INDI developmental domains Means in INDI developmental domains between maltreated
between maltreated and control groups, by CA&N subtype (n = 856). COGNITIVE and control groups, by CA&N subtype (n = 856).
DEVELOPMENT
76,4

SEXUAL CA&N SEXUAL Ctrl

67,9
66,3

NEGLECT CA&N NEGLECT Ctrl

56,6

EXECUTIVE
LOGICAL- FUNCTION ATTITUDES
LANGUAGE MATHEMATICAL SELF TOWARD
SKILS PROJECTION PROSOCIAL LEARNING
MOTOR
BEHAVIORS
33,6

EXTERNALIZING
32,3

32,2

DEVELOPMENT
30,6

30,5
29,4

29,4

BEHAVIORS
28,6
27,6

27,6
27,5
26,9
26,6

26,1

26,1

INTERNALIZING
24,2
23,8

24,1
23,6

23,5
23,1

22,4

22,3

22,2
21,9

BEHAVIORS
22
19,8

18,5
18,3
17,3

15,9
14,8
12,5
11,4

10,4
9,5

CONCLUSIONS: IMPLICATIONS:
The need for tailored strategies based on the specific CA&N type.
Any form of CA&N significantly affects multiple Neglect calls for a comprehensive (multidimensional,
developmental domains (cognitive, motor, multisectoral, interdisciplinary) approach.
socioemotional, attitudes toward learning).
Integrating INDI information into intervention plans.
Among the different forms of maltreatment, NEGLECT Monitoring of children with significant developmental setbacks
affects child development the most, showing moderate- across multiple areas, regardless of a disability or medical-related
sized effects across most domains. delay, for an early possible neglect detection.
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