RE: Child Abuse and Educational Attainment

["Ondersma, Steven" <sondersm@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

We found an association between violence exposure (whether within or outside of the home) and reading as well as IQ in early elementary-age children.  See:

 

    Delaney-Black, V., Covington, C., Ondersma, S. J., Nordstrom-Klee, B., Templin, T., Ager, J., & Sokol, R. J. (2002).  Violence exposure and school outcomes in urban children.   Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, 156, 280-285.

 

 

 

 

 
>Dear List serve members,
>
>I am in need of references to research studies that examine the
relationship between a history of child maltreatment and
academic/school performance in childhood and adulthood. I am
particularly interested in studies that look at the effects of child
maltreatment on learning and educational attainment in childhood and
adulthood. Any references to studies that examine theories for
explaining poorer academic performance and lower educational attainment
in child maltreatment survivors are greatly appreciated as well.
>
>Marion Burke
>
>  ----- Original Message -----
>  From: Marion Burke
>  To: Child Maltreatment Researchers
>  Sent: Saturday, April 09, 2005 11:46 AM
>  Subject: Assessing Maltreatment Status
>
>
>  Dear List serve members,
>
>  
>
>  I am a graduate student at Capella University, currently finalizing
my dissertation proposal that examines the differential outcomes of
single versus multiple child abuse and neglect experiences. I intend to
use the Comprehensive Child Maltreatment Scale (CCMS) for Adults
(Higgins & McCabe, 2001) in order to assess abuse/non-abuse status in
an Internet community sample. The CCMS is a retrospective self-report
measure of childhood abuse and neglect experiences designed for a
nonclinical population. The department chair of my specialization, who
is not familiar with the child maltreatment literature, is concerned
that the use of this measure may cause potential problems due to the
sensitive nature of the questions. He is worried that participants may
have adverse reactions to this questionnaire, and that potential legal
ramifications may result. Here is where I need some input:
>
>  
>
>  Does anyone have knowledge of or has had experiences with
participants who had adverse reactions to questionnaires that are used
to retrospectively establish maltreatment status? Does anyone have
knowledge of legal consequences that resulted due to the use of such
questionnaires? What precautions could be taken to reduce the
likelihood of adverse reactions to sensitive questions? What options do
I have to assess for abuse histories without the use of such
questionnaires?
>
>  
>
>  Any feedback on this issue would be greatly appreciated.
>
>  
>
>  Best regards,
>
>  
>
>  
>
>  Marion Burke
>
>  PhD Learner
>
>  Capella University
>
>  
>
>  Higgins, D. J., & McCabe, M. P. (2001). The development of the
comprehensive child maltreatment scale. Journal of Family Studies, 7
(1), 7-28
>
>
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