NCJ Number
123376
Date Published
1989
Length
50 pages
Annotation
This review of research on the peer relations of abused and neglected children notes that physical abuse and neglect have different effects on a child's social development, with physically abused more often described as behaving aggressively or actively avoiding interaction and neglected children more often described as withdrawn and restricted in their expressions of feelings.
Abstract
The discussion emphasizes that the development of normal peer relations goes through eight stages, starting with the absence of peer relations in the period between birth and 5 months of age and progressing to intimacy with peers of the opposite sex at age 16 and above. It also notes that both attachment theory and social network theory are relevant to understanding the impact of maltreatment on a child's ability to form relationships with peers. It concludes that peer relations based on a sense of felt equality are difficult for maltreated children mainly because their formative experiences have involved exploitation, submission, and the violation of trust. Research is recommended that uses measures developed in studies of normal development, that measures children's perceptions as well as their behavior, and that directly assesses the relationship between the quality of parent-child relations and child-peer relations. 108 references.