Neglected Children, Shame-Proneness, and Depressive Symptoms

Date

2010

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Child Maltreatment

Abstract

Neglected children may be at increased risk for depressive symptoms. This study examines shame-proneness as an outcome of child neglect and as a potential explanatory variable in the relation between neglect and depressive symptoms. Participants were 111 children (52 with a Child Protective Services [CPS] allegation of neglect) seen at age 7. Neglected children reported more shame-proneness and more depressive symptoms than comparison children. Guilt-proneness, in contrast, was unrelated to neglect and depressive symptoms, indicating specificity for shame-proneness. The potential role of shame as a process variable that can help explain how some neglected children exhibit depressive symptoms is discussed. (Author Abstract)

Description

Keywords

neglect, child abuse, depression, shame, guilt, research

Citation

Bennett, D. S., Sullivan, M. W., & Lewis, M. (2010). Neglected children, shame-proneness, and depressive symptoms. Child maltreatment, 15(4), 305-314.

DOI