Article

Latent Profiles Analysis of Child Maltreatment and Adjustment

Author

김세원, 이봉주

Information

pp. 173~189 / 2010 Vol.17 No.1

Abstract

This study identified profiles of experiences related to both maltreatment and investigated the relationship among the derived profiles. The participants were 1,785 fourth grade children taken from a sample of the Seoul Panel Study of Children in 2004. Using latent profile analysis, three child abuse profiles were identified: ‘low maltreatment(89.2%)’, ‘physical abuse+emotional abuse+neglect(1.9%)’, and ‘physical abuse+emotional abuse(8.9%)’. Additionally, three adjustment profiles were identified: ‘high adjustment (54.4%)’, ‘moderate adjustment(36.7%)’, and ‘low adjustment(8.9%)’. In our estimated latent transition probability, the ‘physical abuse+emotional abuse+neglect’ and ‘physical abuse+emotional abuse’ maltreatment groups were more likely to fall into the ‘low adjustment’ group and less likely to be found in the ‘high adjustment’ group. This study analyzed high risk groups of abused children and from this, was able to empirically extrapolate and uncover patterns of child maltreatment from within the general population. This finding suggested that the need for agencies to identify and provide appropriate services for children who have experienced multiple types of maltreatment.Key words : child maltreatment, adjustment, latent profile analysis

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