Neighborhood collective efficacy reduces child maltreatment through decreasing parenting stress: A longitudinal path model

Background: Neighborhoods and families are crucial contexts for child maltreatment, yet research into mechanisms of neighborhood effects on child maltreatment remains limited.

Objective: This study examined longitudinal associations between neighborhood collective efficacy, maternal parenting stress, and child maltreatment.

Participants and setting: The study drew data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS). Participants included 2890 mothers who were interviewed when their children were born and at ages 3, 5, 9, and 15.

Methods: A longitudinal path model was utilized to analyze direct and indirect effects of neighborhood collective efficacy on child maltreatment via parenting stress.

Results: Neighborhood collective efficacy and parenting stress demonstrated temporal stability over time (ages 3 to 15). Child maltreatment had carry-over effects during childhood (ages 3 to 9) but not into adolescence (age 15). Higher parenting stress in earlier years was associated with increased child maltreatment in childhood (ages 3 to 9), but not in adolescence (age 15). Neighborhood collective efficacy was associated with reduced parenting stress over time. In early childhood (ages 3 to 9), neighborhood collective efficacy protected against child maltreatment through larger direct effects than indirect effects via reduced parenting stress. In later years (ages 5 to 15), however, neighborhood collective efficacy had neither direct nor indirect effects on childhood maltreatment.

Conclusions: Findings highlight early, targeted prevention and intervention strategies for child maltreatment. Programs aimed at reducing parenting stress, increasing community-based child protection practices, and strengthening neighborhood closeness could mitigate child maltreatment.