1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«The objective of this study is to examine the distinct contributions of dysfunctional (extremely insensitive withdrawn, extremely insensitive negative-intrusive, and disconnected) and maltreating forms of (neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional maltreatment) parental behaviors on children’s levels of DSEB [disinhibited social engagement behavior].» (p. 3)

Questions/Hypothèses :
Authors «hypothesized that the more parents show disconnected and extremely insensitive withdrawn behaviors, the more children are likely to present higher levels of DSEB. Out of the different forms of maltreatment, [they] expected parental neglect to be associated with higher levels of DSEB.» (p. 3)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
«The participants included in this sample were 67 children […] and their biological parent […]. All families were recruited through the child protective services [CPS] and as part of a larger intervention project for children and their parents. To participate in this study: [p]arents had to be considered the offending parent, i. e. with a substantiated report of maltreatment by CPS [and] about to begin a parenting capacity assessment, as led by CPS practitioners to ascertain whether the child should be removed or not from the care of their parents. [Moreover, children] had to be between 0 and 5 years 11 months old […].» (p. 3) «Research assistants consulted the children’s CPS files to gather information on the children’s types of maltreatment and their care arrangements at intake.» (p. 4)

Instruments :
- Questionnaires
- Grille d’observation

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

«This study contributes to the growing body of literature showing that DSEB […] is present, but to a small extent, in children from high-risk intact families who were never institutionalized […]. It also suggests that extremely insensitive parental behaviors, especially of the withdrawn kind, are likely to give rise to DSEB in children of parents with substantiated maltreatment. Thus, the results of this study suggest that parental behavior quality could play a role in the etiology of DSEB and thus could be considered as a potential clinical leverage to prevent or decrease DSEB in maltreated children. Short-term attachment-based interventions oriented on the parent-child relationship […] and specifically designed to improve parental sensitive behavior and to diminish disrupted parental behavior, have shown to be successful strategies for improving the well-being of maltreated children and their parents (less attachment disorganization, more attachment security, less child behavior problems, more parental sensitivity). These strategies are promising with DSEB children. Still, given the lack of research on this population, future research is needed to more fully understand DSEB. In particular, studies should also examine the contribution of children’s biological characteristics, in addition to that of parental behaviors.» (p. 9)