The Effects of Parental Psychopathology and Maltreatment on Child Behavior: A Test of the Diathesis-Stress Model
Child DevelopmentPublished 1 February 1989
Elaine F. Walker, Geraldine Downey, Andrea Bergman
Citations67
SJR quartileQ1
SJR score2.19
SNIP2.13
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TL;DR
Most notably, parental psychiatric status and maltreatment interacted significantly, such that offspring of schizophrenic parents from maltreating families showed increases in externalized behavior problems over time, support a diathesis-stress model of psychopathology.
Abstract
Past research on risk factors in child development has tended to focus on 1 risk factor rather than examining the effects of multiple factors simultaneously. The present research examines the main and interactive effects of parental psychopathology (schizophrenia, psychiatric control, and normal control) and maltreatment on child behavior. Child aggression, delinquency, and social withdrawal were assessed at 2 times so that the effects of risk factors on behavioral change could also be examined. The results indicate significant relations between the risk factors and child behavior. Most notably, parental psychiatric status and maltreatment interacted significantly, such that offspring of schizophrenic parents from maltreating families showed increases in externalized behavior problems over time. These results support a diathesis-stress model of psychopathology.
Keywords
PsychologyMedicine
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