Profiles of socioemotional functioning in children with and without CPS-subtantiated maltreatment: Associations with child maltreatment and dating violence

Objective: Person-centered approaches are essential for characterizing heterogeneity in child development as it relates to child maltreatment (CM) and dating violence. The present study had two aims: 1) identify person-centered patterns of childhood socioemotional functioning, 2) examine whether patterns of child socioemotional functioning mediate the association between CM and dating violence.

Participants and setting: Wave 1 comprised N = 680 children ages 10-12 years with and without experiences of CPS-substantiated CM facing socio-economic challenge. Wave 2 included N = 407 emerging adults ages 18-24 years old.

Methods: Children participated in a summer camp research program at Wave 1 and a follow up interview at Wave 2. Participant CM history and socioemotional functioning was assessed at Wave 1. Exposure to dating violence was assessed at Wave 2. A latent profile analysis identified patterns of socioemotional functioning. Then regression analyses examined associations of socioemotional functioning with CM and dating violence.

Results: Three profiles of child socioemotional functioning were identified (well-regulated/low distress, high externalizing/high aggression, high internalizing). CM was significantly associated with membership in the high externalizing/high aggression class. Patterns of child socioemotional functioning did not mediate the association between CM and dating violence, although number of subtypes of CM had a significant positive direct effect on dating violence.

Conclusions: Results underscore the multidimensional nature of socioemotional functioning and the predictive power of number of subtypes of CM on dating violence. Results can be harnessed by clinicians and policy makers to identify those at risk and interrupt cycles of violence.