Pub Date : 2026-01-10DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2026.107882
Austin J. Blake , Mariola Moeyaert , Felix J. Thoemmes , David Mackinnon , Laurie Chassin
Background
Youth who experience out-of-home placement (OOHP) engage in elevated health risk behaviors (e.g., substance use, unprotected sex), with risk potentially heightened for those placed during adolescence. Estimating causal effects is challenging because maltreated youth who are placed differ systematically from those who remain in-home.
Objective
This study examined the effects of adolescent OOHP on health risk behaviors, applying causal inference methods (g-estimation and inverse probability of treatment weighting; IPTW) to address selection bias and time-varying confounders.
Participants and setting
Data were drawn from 734 maltreated adolescents in the U.S. National Survey on Child and Adolescent Wellbeing.
Methods
IPTW and g-estimation were used to estimate effects of adolescent OOHP on substance use and sexual risk behavior during adolescence and into young adulthood, adjusting for numerous confounders. Results were compared with regression analyses using traditional covariate adjustment.
Results
In traditional regression models, OOHP was not significantly associated with health risk behaviors. However, both causal inference approaches revealed that OOHP predicted increased substance use later in adolescence. IPTW analyses also indicated greater sexual risk behavior in adolescence and increased substance use in adulthood among placed youth.
Conclusions
Although OOHP is intended to enhance safety, adolescent OOHP may heighten risk for harmful health behaviors. Given the severe consequences of such behaviors and the risk of losing service access in adulthood, the period following OOHP is a critical window for intervention. The results demonstrate how robust causal inference techniques may lead to more accurate assessment of OOHP than traditional regression methods.
{"title":"Estimating the impact of out-of-home placement on health risk behavior in adolescents exposed to maltreatment: An advanced causal inference approach","authors":"Austin J. Blake , Mariola Moeyaert , Felix J. Thoemmes , David Mackinnon , Laurie Chassin","doi":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2026.107882","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2026.107882","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Youth who experience out-of-home placement (OOHP) engage in elevated health risk behaviors (e.g., substance use, unprotected sex), with risk potentially heightened for those placed during adolescence. Estimating causal effects is challenging because maltreated youth who are placed differ systematically from those who remain in-home.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study examined the effects of adolescent OOHP on health risk behaviors, applying causal inference methods (g-estimation and inverse probability of treatment weighting; IPTW) to address selection bias and time-varying confounders.</div></div><div><h3>Participants and setting</h3><div>Data were drawn from 734 maltreated adolescents in the U.S. National Survey on Child and Adolescent Wellbeing.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>IPTW and g-estimation were used to estimate effects of adolescent OOHP on substance use and sexual risk behavior during adolescence and into young adulthood, adjusting for numerous confounders. Results were compared with regression analyses using traditional covariate adjustment.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>In traditional regression models, OOHP was not significantly associated with health risk behaviors. However, both causal inference approaches revealed that OOHP predicted increased substance use later in adolescence. IPTW analyses also indicated greater sexual risk behavior in adolescence and increased substance use in adulthood among placed youth.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Although OOHP is intended to enhance safety, adolescent OOHP may heighten risk for harmful health behaviors. Given the severe consequences of such behaviors and the risk of losing service access in adulthood, the period following OOHP is a critical window for intervention. The results demonstrate how robust causal inference techniques may lead to more accurate assessment of OOHP than traditional regression methods.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51343,"journal":{"name":"Child Abuse & Neglect","volume":"173 ","pages":"Article 107882"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145953823","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107881
Fan Wu , Yiwen Yan , Rongxuan Tian , Liwen Qu , Linyun Fu
Background
Despite increasing advocacy for child-centered social services, tools for capturing children's subjective experiences remain limited, particularly in non-Western contexts.
Objective
This study aimed to develop and validate the Children's Subjective Service Experience Scale (CSSES), a multidimensional measure of children's perceptions and engagement during social service practices.
Participants
A total of 1021 students (grades 4–9, aged 9–15) from seven schools across urban and rural regions in China participated. All were recipients of a national nonprofit social service program in Mainland China.
Methods
Items were generated from a systematic literature review, expert consultation, and interviews with children. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted on two split samples (n1 = 511; n2 = 510), followed by multigroup CFA to assess measurement invariance across gender, grade level, and urban–rural residence.
Results
A 16-item, four-factor structure was identified, with two second-order dimensions: subjective experience (identity, interaction process) and intersubjective experience (expression, care ethics). Model fit was acceptable (χ2/df = 2.763, CFI = 0.923, TLI = 0.907, RMSEA = 0.059, SRMR = 0.052). The scale showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's α > 0.70 for most factors), satisfactory composite reliability (CR > 0.70), and strong measurement invariance across subgroups (ΔCFI <0.01).
Conclusions
The results demonstrate that the CSSES is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing children's subjective experiences, specifically within the context of school-based psychosocial interventions. It offers a practical tool for improving service responsiveness, promoting child agency, and informing child-centered intervention design.
{"title":"Development and validation of the children's subjective service experience scale during social service delivery in Mainland China","authors":"Fan Wu , Yiwen Yan , Rongxuan Tian , Liwen Qu , Linyun Fu","doi":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107881","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107881","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Despite increasing advocacy for child-centered social services, tools for capturing children's subjective experiences remain limited, particularly in non-Western contexts.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aimed to develop and validate the Children's Subjective Service Experience Scale (CSSES), a multidimensional measure of children's perceptions and engagement during social service practices.</div></div><div><h3>Participants</h3><div>A total of 1021 students (grades 4–9, aged 9–15) from seven schools across urban and rural regions in China participated. All were recipients of a national nonprofit social service program in Mainland China.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Items were generated from a systematic literature review, expert consultation, and interviews with children. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted on two split samples (n<sub>1</sub> = 511; n<sub>2</sub> = 510), followed by multigroup CFA to assess measurement invariance across gender, grade level, and urban–rural residence.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A 16-item, four-factor structure was identified, with two second-order dimensions: subjective experience (identity, interaction process) and intersubjective experience (expression, care ethics). Model fit was acceptable (χ<sup>2</sup>/df = 2.763, CFI = 0.923, TLI = 0.907, RMSEA = 0.059, SRMR = 0.052). The scale showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's α > 0.70 for most factors), satisfactory composite reliability (CR > 0.70), and strong measurement invariance across subgroups (ΔCFI <0.01).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The results demonstrate that the CSSES is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing children's subjective experiences, specifically within the context of school-based psychosocial interventions. It offers a practical tool for improving service responsiveness, promoting child agency, and informing child-centered intervention design.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51343,"journal":{"name":"Child Abuse & Neglect","volume":"173 ","pages":"Article 107881"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145928785","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-08DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107880
Yafan Chen , Lauren Manley-Sayin , Susan Yoon
Background
Prior research shows that exposure to intimate partner violence (eIPV) impedes child well-being throughout the lifespan. However, it has often failed to capture the timing and chronicity of eIPV in adolescents.
Objective
This study explored the longitudinal profiles of children's eIPV from the prenatal stage to age 9 and the associations between the profiles and adolescent internalizing symptoms at age 15.
Participants and setting
The sample was 1495 adolescents from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a national longitudinal birth cohort study investigating the well-being of unmarried parents and their children in the US.
Methods
Repeated measures latent profile analysis was employed to identify the longitudinal profiles of children's eIPV. Then, pairwise comparisons of three internalizing outcomes were conducted to examine the associations between adolescents' eIPV patterns and internalizing symptoms.
Results
Three profiles were identified: 89.8 % stable low eIPV, 6.2 % early eIPV with a peak in toddlerhood, and 4.0 % frequent eIPV at school age. Adolescents who were exposed to IPV in childhood reported worse internalizing symptoms than those having low eIPV over time, with small effect sizes (ranging from 0.23 to 0.31).
Conclusions
This study employed a person-centered approach to explore children's longitudinal profile of eIPV, considering both the timing and chronicity of exposure. The findings highlight the necessity of prevention efforts to reduce eIPV, particularly in early childhood. Interventions targeting internalizing symptoms among adolescents should assess the youth's history of eIPV and incorporate strategies to address associated trauma.
{"title":"Long-term exposure to intimate partner violence and adolescents' internalizing symptoms: A repeated measures latent profile analysis","authors":"Yafan Chen , Lauren Manley-Sayin , Susan Yoon","doi":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107880","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107880","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Prior research shows that exposure to intimate partner violence (eIPV) impedes child well-being throughout the lifespan. However, it has often failed to capture the timing and chronicity of eIPV in adolescents.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study explored the longitudinal profiles of children's eIPV from the prenatal stage to age 9 and the associations between the profiles and adolescent internalizing symptoms at age 15.</div></div><div><h3>Participants and setting</h3><div>The sample was 1495 adolescents from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a national longitudinal birth cohort study investigating the well-being of unmarried parents and their children in the US.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Repeated measures latent profile analysis was employed to identify the longitudinal profiles of children's eIPV. Then, pairwise comparisons of three internalizing outcomes were conducted to examine the associations between adolescents' eIPV patterns and internalizing symptoms.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Three profiles were identified: 89.8 % stable low eIPV, 6.2 % early eIPV with a peak in toddlerhood, and 4.0 % frequent eIPV at school age. Adolescents who were exposed to IPV in childhood reported worse internalizing symptoms than those having low eIPV over time, with small effect sizes (ranging from 0.23 to 0.31).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study employed a person-centered approach to explore children's longitudinal profile of eIPV, considering both the timing and chronicity of exposure. The findings highlight the necessity of prevention efforts to reduce eIPV, particularly in early childhood. Interventions targeting internalizing symptoms among adolescents should assess the youth's history of eIPV and incorporate strategies to address associated trauma.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51343,"journal":{"name":"Child Abuse & Neglect","volume":"173 ","pages":"Article 107880"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145928786","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-08DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107879
Qinglu Wu , Nan Zhou , Hongjian Cao
Background
Associations between childhood emotional maltreatment (CEM) and psychological distress (e.g., depressive and anxiety symptoms) have been widely demonstrated. However, the underlying mechanisms for such associations involving adaptive and maladaptive emotion regulation (ER) strategies are still underexplored.
Objectives
Based on the Emotion Regulation Theory, the present study investigated the potential mediating roles of the avoidance-based (i.e., worry) and the acceptance-based (i.e., self-compassion) ER strategies in the associations of two types of CEM (threat: emotional abuse; deprivation: emotional neglect) with depressive and anxiety symptoms and the potential moderating role of self-compassion in such associations.
Methods
Three-wave, self-report survey data were collected from 668 Chinese college students (66.8 % female, Mage = 19.96 years old, SD = 1.25) with a 6-month between-wave interval.
Results
Childhood emotional abuse was positively associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms through increased worry. Self-compassion moderated the associations of worry with depressive and anxiety symptoms and these positive associations were identified only when self-compassion was low. Further, the indirect pathways from emotional abuse to depressive and anxiety symptoms through increased worry were significant only when self-compassion was low. No medaiting effects involving emotional neglect or self-compassion were identified.
Conclusions
Cognitive avoidance-based ER strategy served as a mediator to transmit the deterimental effect of early emotional abuse on later mental health, whereas acceptance-based ER strategy moderated the negative effect. Accordingly, interventions aimed at reducing psychological distress among individuals with experiences of childhood emotional abuse should consider incoporating components that enhacne self-compassion and reduce worry.
{"title":"Childhood emotional maltreatment predicts subsequent psychological distress in emerging adulthood through increased worry: Resilience conferred by self-compassion","authors":"Qinglu Wu , Nan Zhou , Hongjian Cao","doi":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107879","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107879","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Associations between childhood emotional maltreatment (CEM) and psychological distress (e.g., depressive and anxiety symptoms) have been widely demonstrated. However, the underlying mechanisms for such associations involving adaptive and maladaptive emotion regulation (ER) strategies are still underexplored.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>Based on the Emotion Regulation Theory, the present study investigated the potential mediating roles of the avoidance-based (i.e., worry) and the acceptance-based (i.e., self-compassion) ER strategies in the associations of two types of CEM (threat: emotional abuse; deprivation: emotional neglect) with depressive and anxiety symptoms and the potential moderating role of self-compassion in such associations.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Three-wave, self-report survey data were collected from 668 Chinese college students (66.8 % female, <em>M</em><sub>age</sub> = 19.96 years old, <em>SD</em> = 1.25) with a 6-month between-wave interval.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Childhood emotional abuse was positively associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms through increased worry. Self-compassion moderated the associations of worry with depressive and anxiety symptoms and these positive associations were identified only when self-compassion was low. Further, the indirect pathways from emotional abuse to depressive and anxiety symptoms through increased worry were significant only when self-compassion was low. No medaiting effects involving emotional neglect or self-compassion were identified.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Cognitive avoidance-based ER strategy served as a mediator to transmit the deterimental effect of early emotional abuse on later mental health, whereas acceptance-based ER strategy moderated the negative effect. Accordingly, interventions aimed at reducing psychological distress among individuals with experiences of childhood emotional abuse should consider incoporating components that enhacne self-compassion and reduce worry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51343,"journal":{"name":"Child Abuse & Neglect","volume":"173 ","pages":"Article 107879"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145908675","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-08DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2026.107885
Shan Jiang , Chengkun Jin , Ruoyu Du , Zurong Liang
Background
While both adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and discrimination have independently been linked to health disparities, few studies have examined how early-life adversity may predispose individuals to perceive or experience discrimination.
Objective
This study explores the long-term cumulative, typological and time-varying effects of ACEs on discrimination in adulthood using a representative longitudinal data.
Participants and setting
Four public waves of data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health were used. The final analytical sample consists of 3107 respondents.
Methods
Latent class analysis was used to identify latent ACE classes. OLS and Negative binomial regression models were conducted to examine the effects of varied ACEs measures on discrimination experiences and perceptions.
Results
Physical abuse, emotional abuse, and parental incarceration were the strongest predictors of discrimination experiences (b = 0.160–0.193, p < .001) and perceptions (IRR = 1.393–1.649, p < .001). Cumulative ACEs was positively associated with discrimination experiences (b = 0.066, p < .001) and perceptions (IRR = 1.156, p < .001). Latent class analysis identified three ACE typologies; those within Parental Abuse had higher adult discrimination experiences and perceptions than Low ACE class. Exposure to physical (b = 0.281, p < .001; IRR = 1.655, p < .001) and emotional abuse (b = 0.258, p < .001; IRR = 1.722, p < .001) during early childhood predicted highest discrimination experiences and perceptions.
Conclusions
The study contributes to life course and stress proliferation theories by conceptualizing discrimination as a downstream manifestation of early trauma. Policy and clinical implications emphasize the need for trauma-informed, developmentally sensitive interventions across the life span.
虽然不良的童年经历（ace）和歧视都与健康差异有关，但很少有研究调查早期生活逆境如何使个人容易感知或经历歧视。目的利用具有代表性的纵向数据，探讨不良经历对成年期歧视的长期累积效应、类型效应和时变效应。参与者和设置使用了来自国家青少年到成人健康纵向研究的四波公开数据。最终的分析样本包括3107名受访者。方法采用潜类分析方法鉴定ACE的潜类。采用OLS和负二项回归模型检验不同ace措施对歧视体验和感知的影响。结果身体虐待、精神虐待和父母监禁是歧视经历（b = 0.160 ~ 0.193, p < 0.001）和认知（IRR = 1.393 ~ 1.649, p < 0.001）的最强预测因子。累积ace与歧视经历（b = 0.066, p < .001）和认知（IRR = 1.156, p < .001）呈正相关。潜在分类分析鉴定出三种ACE类型；受父母虐待的学生比低ACE班级有更高的成人歧视经历和认知。儿童早期遭受身体虐待（b = 0.281, p < .001; IRR = 1.655, p < .001）和精神虐待（b = 0.258, p < .001; IRR = 1.722, p < .001）预示着最高的歧视经历和感知。结论该研究通过将歧视概念化为早期创伤的下游表现，为生命历程和应激增殖理论做出了贡献。政策和临床意义强调需要创伤知情，发展敏感的干预整个生命周期。
{"title":"A longitudinal study of adverse childhood experiences and discrimination in adulthood","authors":"Shan Jiang , Chengkun Jin , Ruoyu Du , Zurong Liang","doi":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2026.107885","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2026.107885","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>While both adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and discrimination have independently been linked to health disparities, few studies have examined how early-life adversity may predispose individuals to perceive or experience discrimination.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study explores the long-term cumulative, typological and time-varying effects of ACEs on discrimination in adulthood using a representative longitudinal data.</div></div><div><h3>Participants and setting</h3><div>Four public waves of data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health were used. The final analytical sample consists of 3107 respondents.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Latent class analysis was used to identify latent ACE classes. OLS and Negative binomial regression models were conducted to examine the effects of varied ACEs measures on discrimination experiences and perceptions.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Physical abuse, emotional abuse, and parental incarceration were the strongest predictors of discrimination experiences (b = 0.160–0.193, <em>p</em> < .001) and perceptions (IRR = 1.393–1.649, <em>p</em> < .001). Cumulative ACEs was positively associated with discrimination experiences (b = 0.066, <em>p</em> < .001) and perceptions (IRR = 1.156, <em>p</em> < .001). Latent class analysis identified three ACE typologies; those within Parental Abuse had higher adult discrimination experiences and perceptions than Low ACE class. Exposure to physical (b = 0.281, <em>p</em> < .001; IRR = 1.655, <em>p</em> < .001) and emotional abuse (b = 0.258, <em>p</em> < .001; IRR = 1.722, <em>p</em> < .001) during early childhood predicted highest discrimination experiences and perceptions.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The study contributes to life course and stress proliferation theories by conceptualizing discrimination as a downstream manifestation of early trauma. Policy and clinical implications emphasize the need for trauma-informed, developmentally sensitive interventions across the life span.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51343,"journal":{"name":"Child Abuse & Neglect","volume":"173 ","pages":"Article 107885"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145908674","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-07DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107872
Naama Parush Shear Yashuv , Rinat Salem , Ofra Abramson , Ayelet Carmeli-Messinger , Avrum Neumbourg , Amir Ron , Naama Holzman , Pini Akiva , Ben Y. Reis , Merav Dadia-Molad , Astar Sobol , Maytal Bivas-Benita , Guy Amit
Background
Child neglect and abuse are prevalent worldwide yet often incompletely reported and are frequently associated with long-term adverse physical and mental health outcomes. Municipal-level administrative data contain indicators relevant to detecting child neglect and abuse, which machine learning algorithms can aggregate to help identify children at-risk and facilitate timely interventions. However, this valuable information is typically stored in isolated data silos across different municipal services, limiting its effective utilization.
Objective
This study aimed to assess whether machine learning models applied to integrated municipal data can accurately predict the risk of child neglect and abuse in a large population of children residing in Jerusalem, Israel.
Participants and setting
A large, deidentified dataset representing over 470,000 children, linked across multiple municipal systems, including population registry, education, public health, local taxation and welfare services.
Methods
We defined neglect and abuse outcomes based on the child's welfare records, and constructed models to predict the current risk and the future 2-year risk for each outcome, using multitude of variables extracted from the dataset. Two main use cases were addressed: (1) risk prediction in the general child population using non-welfare data, and (2) risk prediction within the subpopulation already known to welfare services using both welfare and non-welfare data. The models were trained with incremental inclusion of data sources, and their performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and sensitivity at fixed levels of specificity.
Results
The prediction models demonstrated good performance, with AUCs ranging from 0.75 to 0.88, depending on the use case and the time window for risk estimation. Accuracy improved with the integration of additional data sources, particularly education and taxation records. In a scenario where the top 5 % of children at risk, according to the algorithm, are assessed by municipal services, 32 % of neglected children and 34 % of abused children would have been identified up to 2 years in advance. Predictive performance was generally consistent across sex groups, but showed slightly lower AUCs for Arab children, compared to Jewish children.
Conclusions
Machine learning models utilizing multi-source municipal data can effectively identify children at risk of maltreatment. Such tools may support municipal welfare systems by enhancing early detection, guiding resource allocation, and improving outcomes for vulnerable children. However, ethical considerations, cultural sensitivity, and human oversight are essential to ensure responsible implementation.
{"title":"Data-driven prediction of child neglect and abuse using integrated municipal sources","authors":"Naama Parush Shear Yashuv , Rinat Salem , Ofra Abramson , Ayelet Carmeli-Messinger , Avrum Neumbourg , Amir Ron , Naama Holzman , Pini Akiva , Ben Y. Reis , Merav Dadia-Molad , Astar Sobol , Maytal Bivas-Benita , Guy Amit","doi":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107872","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107872","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Child neglect and abuse are prevalent worldwide yet often incompletely reported and are frequently associated with long-term adverse physical and mental health outcomes. Municipal-level administrative data contain indicators relevant to detecting child neglect and abuse, which machine learning algorithms can aggregate to help identify children at-risk and facilitate timely interventions. However, this valuable information is typically stored in isolated data silos across different municipal services, limiting its effective utilization.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aimed to assess whether machine learning models applied to integrated municipal data can accurately predict the risk of child neglect and abuse in a large population of children residing in Jerusalem, Israel.</div></div><div><h3>Participants and setting</h3><div>A large, deidentified dataset representing over 470,000 children, linked across multiple municipal systems, including population registry, education, public health, local taxation and welfare services.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We defined neglect and abuse outcomes based on the child's welfare records, and constructed models to predict the current risk and the future 2-year risk for each outcome, using multitude of variables extracted from the dataset. Two main use cases were addressed: (1) risk prediction in the general child population using non-welfare data, and (2) risk prediction within the subpopulation already known to welfare services using both welfare and non-welfare data. The models were trained with incremental inclusion of data sources, and their performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and sensitivity at fixed levels of specificity.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The prediction models demonstrated good performance, with AUCs ranging from 0.75 to 0.88, depending on the use case and the time window for risk estimation. Accuracy improved with the integration of additional data sources, particularly education and taxation records. In a scenario where the top 5 % of children at risk, according to the algorithm, are assessed by municipal services, 32 % of neglected children and 34 % of abused children would have been identified up to 2 years in advance. Predictive performance was generally consistent across sex groups, but showed slightly lower AUCs for Arab children, compared to Jewish children.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Machine learning models utilizing multi-source municipal data can effectively identify children at risk of maltreatment. Such tools may support municipal welfare systems by enhancing early detection, guiding resource allocation, and improving outcomes for vulnerable children. However, ethical considerations, cultural sensitivity, and human oversight are essential to ensure responsible implementation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51343,"journal":{"name":"Child Abuse & Neglect","volume":"172 ","pages":"Article 107872"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145935780","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-03DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107874
Austen McGuire , Rachel Siciliano , Cynthia M. Navarro Flores , Alejandro L. Vázquez , Daniel W. Smith , Dean Kilpatrick
Background
Exposure to multiple potentially traumatic events (PTEs; e.g., maltreatment, family or community violence), is a robust risk factor for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Identifying patterns of PTE exposure (i.e., polyvictimization) is essential for understanding youth risk for subsequent PTE exposure and mental health outcomes.
Objective
The current study used network analysis to characterize interrelations among PTEs and their connections to PTSD symptoms, and examined whether theoretically grounded classifications versus data-driven constellations of individual PTEs differentially capture polyvictimization patterns and associations with symptoms.
Methods
Data were drawn from 3614 youth (Mage[SD] = 14.63[1.67]; 50 % female youth) who reported on lifetime exposure to 31 distinct PTEs and PTSD symptoms. The study compared network structures and metrics indexing PTE and PTSD symptom interconnectedness across two approaches: (1) a priori theoretically-grounded PTE categories and (2) data-driven groupings of individual PTEs.
Results
Results from categorical and individual networks revealed both distinct and overlapping polyvictimization and symptom patterns. Aggregating PTEs into broad categories obscured key connections among “lower severity” PTEs (e.g., caregiver spanking/slapping, touching on private parts) that were strongly linked to polyvictimization and symptoms.
Conclusions
Theoretical, broad groupings may not accurately reflect patterns of PTE exposure in youth. Findings highlight the value of data-driven approaches and the importance of assessing individual PTEs to capture the complexity of polyvictimization. Results also highlight potential targets for prevention and intervention among PTE exposed youth (e.g., caregiver behaviors) and provide guidance for future the operationalization of polyvictimization in studies linking PTE and emotional and behavioral health outcomes.
{"title":"Caught in the web of polyvictimization: Network analysis of theoretical clusters versus data-driven groupings of potentially traumatic events among adolescents","authors":"Austen McGuire , Rachel Siciliano , Cynthia M. Navarro Flores , Alejandro L. Vázquez , Daniel W. Smith , Dean Kilpatrick","doi":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107874","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107874","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Exposure to multiple potentially traumatic events (PTEs; e.g., maltreatment, family or community violence), is a robust risk factor for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Identifying patterns of PTE exposure (i.e., polyvictimization) is essential for understanding youth risk for subsequent PTE exposure and mental health outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>The current study used network analysis to characterize interrelations among PTEs and their connections to PTSD symptoms, and examined whether theoretically grounded classifications versus data-driven constellations of individual PTEs differentially capture polyvictimization patterns and associations with symptoms.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Data were drawn from 3614 youth (<em>M</em><sub><em>age</em></sub>[<em>SD</em>] = 14.63[1.67]; 50 % female youth) who reported on lifetime exposure to 31 distinct PTEs and PTSD symptoms. The study compared network structures and metrics indexing PTE and PTSD symptom interconnectedness across two approaches: (1) a priori theoretically-grounded PTE categories and (2) data-driven groupings of individual PTEs.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Results from categorical and individual networks revealed both distinct and overlapping polyvictimization and symptom patterns. Aggregating PTEs into broad categories obscured key connections among “lower severity” PTEs (e.g., caregiver spanking/slapping, touching on private parts) that were strongly linked to polyvictimization and symptoms.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Theoretical, broad groupings may not accurately reflect patterns of PTE exposure in youth. Findings highlight the value of data-driven approaches and the importance of assessing individual PTEs to capture the complexity of polyvictimization. Results also highlight potential targets for prevention and intervention among PTE exposed youth (e.g., caregiver behaviors) and provide guidance for future the operationalization of polyvictimization in studies linking PTE and emotional and behavioral health outcomes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51343,"journal":{"name":"Child Abuse & Neglect","volume":"172 ","pages":"Article 107874"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145901000","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-31DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107875
Afnan Attrash-Najjar
Background
Although children's responses to abuse are well documented, less is known about how those responses unfold in marginalized, conservative communities experiencing political instability.
Objectives
This study examines responses and interpretations of responses to intrafamilial physical child abuse among Palestinian Muslim survivors in Israel.
Methods
Seventeen Palestinian Muslim adults (12 women, 5 men, aged 19–54) with histories of continuous intrafamilial physical abuse in childhood participated. They were recruited via social media and engaged in in-depth narrative interviews between May 2022 and January 2023. The interviews were analyzed using categorical-content analysis.
Results
Participants coped with ongoing intrafamilial physical child abuse through various mechanisms, including emotional withdrawal, invisibility, cognitive and imaginative escape, spiritual coping, and unsuccessful help-seeking due to systemic barriers. Their responses to the abuse were shaped by socialization, gender norms, religion, political oppression and state violence, which reinforced their endurance, silence, and distrust of authorities.
Conclusions
The study reveals how cultural, gendered, and systemic factors shape survivors' responses to abuse, emphasizing the need for interventions targeting both individual trauma and broader societal and systemic oppression.
{"title":"“Never mind, my dear, endure it, bear it”: Responses to and interpretations of intrafamilial physical child abuse among Palestinian Muslim survivors in Israel","authors":"Afnan Attrash-Najjar","doi":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107875","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107875","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Although children's responses to abuse are well documented, less is known about how those responses unfold in marginalized, conservative communities experiencing political instability.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>This study examines responses and interpretations of responses to intrafamilial physical child abuse among Palestinian Muslim survivors in Israel.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Seventeen Palestinian Muslim adults (12 women, 5 men, aged 19–54) with histories of continuous intrafamilial physical abuse in childhood participated. They were recruited via social media and engaged in in-depth narrative interviews between May 2022 and January 2023. The interviews were analyzed using categorical-content analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Participants coped with ongoing intrafamilial physical child abuse through various mechanisms, including emotional withdrawal, invisibility, cognitive and imaginative escape, spiritual coping, and unsuccessful help-seeking due to systemic barriers. Their responses to the abuse were shaped by socialization, gender norms, religion, political oppression and state violence, which reinforced their endurance, silence, and distrust of authorities.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The study reveals how cultural, gendered, and systemic factors shape survivors' responses to abuse, emphasizing the need for interventions targeting both individual trauma and broader societal and systemic oppression.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51343,"journal":{"name":"Child Abuse & Neglect","volume":"172 ","pages":"Article 107875"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145884985","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-30DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107866
Mengtong Chen, Naiqi Tian
Background
It remains unclear how childhood experiences, particularly dual exposure to child abuse and interparental violence, as well as positive childhood experiences, affect well-being in adulthood.
Objectives
This study aims to build the network structure of different forms of childhood victimization, parent-child closeness, and adulthood well-being outcomes, with a focus on the core childhood factor that is strongly linked to adulthood well-being and the potential sequential relationship between the variables.
Participants and setting
The retrospective study included 1528 participants between 18 and 65 in the community setting of Shenzhen, China.
Methods
Network analysis was used to identify the relationships between childhood experiences and well-being outcomes in adulthood. The network structure was constructed using R packages qgraph and bootnet. The directed acyclic graph (DAG) was used to explore the most probable direction of the proposed causal relationship.
Results
The network structure shows the indirect interactions between childhood victimization and adulthood well-being via parent-child closeness. Particularly, parent-child closeness is linked to childhood psychological aggression directly and also through neglect and exposure to father-to-mother violence. DAG further indicates the potential sequential relationship between childhood experiences and adulthood well-being, in which psychological aggression plays a pivotal role.
Conclusions
The findings emphasize the significance of preventing childhood victimization, which can improve community health. There is a need for universal interventions to improve the awareness of psychological abuse and integrated services for poly-victims of childhood abuse and interparental violence. Programs aimed at reducing the impacts of child victimization should include efforts to strengthen parent-child relationships.
{"title":"Associations between childhood victimization, parent-child closeness, and adulthood well-being outcomes: A network analysis","authors":"Mengtong Chen, Naiqi Tian","doi":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107866","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107866","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>It remains unclear how childhood experiences, particularly dual exposure to child abuse and interparental violence, as well as positive childhood experiences, affect well-being in adulthood.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>This study aims to build the network structure of different forms of childhood victimization, parent-child closeness, and adulthood well-being outcomes, with a focus on the core childhood factor that is strongly linked to adulthood well-being and the potential sequential relationship between the variables.</div></div><div><h3>Participants and setting</h3><div>The retrospective study included 1528 participants between 18 and 65 in the community setting of Shenzhen, China.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Network analysis was used to identify the relationships between childhood experiences and well-being outcomes in adulthood. The network structure was constructed using R packages <em>qgraph</em> and <em>bootnet.</em> The directed acyclic graph (DAG) was used to explore the most probable direction of the proposed causal relationship.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The network structure shows the indirect interactions between childhood victimization and adulthood well-being via parent-child closeness. Particularly, parent-child closeness is linked to childhood psychological aggression directly and also through neglect and exposure to father-to-mother violence. DAG further indicates the potential sequential relationship between childhood experiences and adulthood well-being, in which psychological aggression plays a pivotal role.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The findings emphasize the significance of preventing childhood victimization, which can improve community health. There is a need for universal interventions to improve the awareness of psychological abuse and integrated services for poly-victims of childhood abuse and interparental violence. Programs aimed at reducing the impacts of child victimization should include efforts to strengthen parent-child relationships.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51343,"journal":{"name":"Child Abuse & Neglect","volume":"172 ","pages":"Article 107866"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145879470","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-30DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107854
Mikaela D. Scozzafava , Carl F. Weems
Background
Child maltreatment remains a critical public health issue with long-term developmental consequences. Understanding how community-level factors and policy changes influence reporting trends is essential for effective prevention and intervention.
Objective
This study investigated 11-year trends in statewide child maltreatment reports and substantiations to better understand these trends in connection with county socioeconomic conditions, statewide policy implementation, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Participants and setting
County-level rates of reported and substantiated child maltreatment from 2012 to 2023 among all 99 counties in Iowa were linked to county-level socioeconomic indicators.
Methods
Hierarchical linear and mixed modeling techniques were used to examine temporal trends and the influence of county-level socioeconomic indicators on reporting and substantiation rates.
Results
Trends in reports and substantiation rates were best modeled by curvilinear (cubic) trends with fluctuations related to a state-wide policy change and the COVID-19 pandemic. Results indicated that county-level income (β = 149.18, SE = 66.79, p < .05), unemployment (β = 124.26, SE = 53.90, p < .05), and safety (β = 198.13, SE = 81.41, p < .05) were associated with reporting rates. County-level educational attainment (β = 60.17, SE = 23.88, p < .05), income (β = 53.12, SE = 23.85, p < .05), unemployment (β = 43.58, SE = 19.47, p < .05), and safety (β = 79.72, SE = 29.67, p < .01) were associated with substantiation rates.
Conclusions
Contrary to expectations from data at the individual and family level, higher levels of income, education, socially supportive environments, and community safety were associated with increased rates of reported and substantiated cases at the county-level. While preliminary, the findings highlight the importance of understanding broad context, community-level surveillance, and institutional capacity beyond the individual and family levels.
背景：儿童虐待仍然是一个严重的公共卫生问题，具有长期的发展后果。了解社区层面的因素和政策变化如何影响报告趋势，对于有效预防和干预至关重要。目的：本研究调查了11年来全州儿童虐待报告和证据的趋势，以更好地了解这些趋势与县社会经济状况、全州政策实施和COVID-19大流行的关系。参与者和环境：在爱荷华州所有99个县中，2012年至2023年报告和证实的县级儿童虐待率与县级社会经济指标相关。方法：采用分层线性和混合建模技术来检验时间趋势以及县级社会经济指标对报告率和证实率的影响。结果：报告和证实率的趋势最好采用曲线（立方）趋势建模，其中波动与全州政策变化和COVID-19大流行有关。结果显示，县级收入（β = 149.18, SE = 66.79, p）与个人和家庭数据的预期相反，较高水平的收入、教育、社会支持环境和社区安全与县级报告和证实病例的发生率增加有关。虽然是初步的，但研究结果强调了了解大背景、社区一级监测和超越个人和家庭层面的机构能力的重要性。
{"title":"Eleven-year trends in statewide child maltreatment reports and substantiated cases: Associations with policy implementation, Covid-19 and community socioeconomic factors","authors":"Mikaela D. Scozzafava , Carl F. Weems","doi":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107854","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107854","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Child maltreatment remains a critical public health issue with long-term developmental consequences. Understanding how community-level factors and policy changes influence reporting trends is essential for effective prevention and intervention.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study investigated 11-year trends in statewide child maltreatment reports and substantiations to better understand these trends in connection with county socioeconomic conditions, statewide policy implementation, and the COVID-19 pandemic.</div></div><div><h3>Participants and setting</h3><div>County-level rates of reported and substantiated child maltreatment from 2012 to 2023 among all 99 counties in Iowa were linked to county-level socioeconomic indicators.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Hierarchical linear and mixed modeling techniques were used to examine temporal trends and the influence of county-level socioeconomic indicators on reporting and substantiation rates.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Trends in reports and substantiation rates were best modeled by curvilinear (cubic) trends with fluctuations related to a state-wide policy change and the COVID-19 pandemic. Results indicated that county-level income (β = 149.18, SE = 66.79, <em>p</em> < .05), unemployment (β = 124.26, SE = 53.90, <em>p</em> < .05), and safety (β = 198.13, SE = 81.41, <em>p</em> < .05) were associated with reporting rates. County-level educational attainment (β = 60.17, SE = 23.88, <em>p</em> < .05), income (β = 53.12, SE = 23.85, <em>p</em> < .05), unemployment (β = 43.58, SE = 19.47, <em>p</em> < .05), and safety (β = 79.72, SE = 29.67, <em>p</em> < .01) were associated with substantiation rates.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Contrary to expectations from data at the individual and family level, higher levels of income, education, socially supportive environments, and community safety were associated with increased rates of reported and substantiated cases at the county-level. While preliminary, the findings highlight the importance of understanding broad context, community-level surveillance, and institutional capacity beyond the individual and family levels.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51343,"journal":{"name":"Child Abuse & Neglect","volume":"172 ","pages":"Article 107854"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145879003","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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