Delineating the maladaptive pathways of child maltreatment: A mediated moderation analysis of the roles of self-perception and social support
Abstract
The current study investigated concurrent and longitudinal mediated and mediated moderation
pathways among maltreatment, self-perception (i.e., loneliness and self-esteem), social
support, and internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. For both genders,
early childhood maltreatment (i.e., ages 0-6) was related directly to internalizing
and externalizing behavior problems at age 6, and later maltreatment (i.e., ages 6-8)
was directly related to internalizing and externalizing behavior problems at age 8.
Results of concurrent mediation and mediated moderation indicated that early maltreatment
was significantly related to internalizing and externalizing behavior problems at
age 6 indirectly both through age 6 loneliness and self-esteem for boys and through
age 6 loneliness for girls. Significant moderation of the pathway from early maltreatment
to self-esteem, and for boys, significant mediated moderation to emotional and behavioral
problems were found, such that the mediated effect through self-esteem varied across
levels of social support, though in an unexpected direction. No significant longitudinal
mediation or mediated moderation was found, however, between the age 6 mediators and
moderator and internalizing or externalizing problems at age 8. The roles of the hypothesized
mediating and moderating mechanisms are discussed, with implications for designing
intervention and prevention programs.
Type
Other articleSubject
item response theoryconfirmatory factor-analysis
developmental
psychopathology
perceived competence
peer relationships
confidence-limits
behavior problems
young-children
esteem
depression
psychology, developmental
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https://hdl.handle.net/10161/3980Published Version (Please cite this version)
10.1017/S095457941000009XCitation
Appleyard,Karen;Yang,Chongming;Runyan,Desmond K.. 2010. Delineating the maladaptive
pathways of child maltreatment: A mediated moderation analysis of the roles of self-perception
and social support. Development and psychopathology 22(2): 337-352.
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Show full item recordScholars@Duke
Karen Appleyard Carmody
Associate Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Karen Appleyard Carmody, PhD, serves as the Director of Early Childhood Prevention
Programs for the Center for Child and Family Health (CCFH). She is a licensed psychologist
and associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and
the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience. Her clinical and research expertise
is in infant mental health, child-parent attachment, early childhood trauma and maltreatment,
and evidence-based practices to address these issues. She

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