Citation

Kim J, Cicchetti D. J. Clin. Child Adolesc. Psychol. 2003; 32(1): 106-117.

Affiliation

Mt. Hope Family Center, University of Rochester, 187 Edinburgh Street, Rochester, NY 14608, USA. Jungmeen@psych.rochester.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12573936

Abstract

Investigated the relations among child maltreatment, children's social self-efficacy, and behavioral adjustment. Data were collected on 305 maltreated and 195 non-maltreated children from low-income families (ages 5 to 12 years) who were assessed on perceived social self-efficacy and evaluated by camp counselors on internalizing and externalizing symptomatology. Younger (< 8 years) maltreated children exhibited inflated levels of perceived self-efficacy in confictual peer interactions compared to younger nonmaltreated children. Younger maltreated children with higher levels of social self-efficacy showed significantly less internalizing behaviors compared to younger maltreated children with lower levels of social self-efficacy. For older children (> 8 years), regardless of maltreatment status, higher levels of perceived social self-efficacy in conflict situations were related to lower levels of internalizing symptomatology. The results are discussed as suggestive of the role of children's social self-efficacy as a protective factor in the link between maltreatment and internalizing symptomatology.

Language: en