Risk factors for behavioral dysfunction: the relative impact of maltreatment, SES, physical health problems, cognitive ability, and quality of parent-child interaction.

An analysis to identify risks for behavioral dysfunction is described in which maltreatment is viewed as one of multiple factors putting behavioral outcome at risk. Based on a study of physically abused and neglected, and nonabused, non-neglected children (n = 206) assessed at two points in time--preschool age and school age--variables representative of several domains (parenting, family environment, and child characteristics) were identified as significantly affecting children's behavioral functioning. Based on teachers' ratings, the children were assigned to one of three groups: high, medium, and low functioning. Discriminant analysis was used to determine which factors discriminated among the three groups. Results indicated that behavioral functioning is most strongly differentiated by the sociocultural and family climate in which the child is raised with physical and emotional maltreatment being significant but less powerful influences.