Citation

Valentino K, Cicchetti D, Toth SL, Rogosch FA. Dev. Psychol. 2006; 42(3): 474-485.

Affiliation

Mt. Hope Family Center, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14608, USA. valentik@psych.rochester.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/0012-1649.42.3.474

PMID

16756439

Abstract

Mother-child play of 12-month-old infants (N=130) from maltreating (N=78) and non-maltreating (N=52) families was analyzed as a context that integrates infants' developing social and cognitive skills. Play was coded from semistructured and unstructured play paradigms. No group differences were found in infants' play maturity. Infants from abusing families demonstrated more imitative play than infants from non-maltreating families, and engaged in less independent play than infants from both neglecting and non-maltreating families, suggesting a delay in emerging social behaviors. Mothers from abusing and non-maltreating families differed in attention directing behaviors. Maternal behaviors predicted child play style variables, but did not mediate the effects of maltreatment. Findings discuss the influence of an early maltreating environment upon the development of the emergent self. Implications for early intervention are underscored.

Language: en