Key Publications

The key publications within the research cluster Child maltreatment

Child abuse and neglect: Epidemiology

  • Van IJzendoorn, M.H., Prinzie, P., Euser, E.M., Groeneveld, M.G., Brilleslijper-Kater, S.N., Van Noort-van der Linden, A.M.T., Bakermans-Kranenburg, M.J., Juffer, F., Mesman, J., Klein Velderman, M. & San Martin Beuk, M. (2007). Kindermishandeling in Nederland anno 2005: De Nationale Prevalentiestudie Mishandeling van Kinderen en Jeugdigen (NPM-2005). Casimir Publishers. 
    Summary (Dutch)
    More information and an English summary can be found at Leiden Attachment Research Program.
     


Child abuse and neglect: Neurobiological aspects

  • Tops, M., Van Peer, J.M., Korf, J., Wijers, A.A., & Tucker, D.M. (2007). Anxiety cortisol and attachment predict plasma oxytocin levels in healthy females. Psychophysiology, 44, 444-449.
    Abstract
    Oxytocin and attachment seem to interact in suppressing subjective anxiety and physiological stress responses. In this study we investigated the relationships between individual differences in trait attachment scores, state andd trait anxiety, plasma cortisol, and plasma oxytocin levels in healthy premenopausal women. Attachment proved to be a strong positive predictor of oxytocin levels, which were also positively predicted by cortisol levels and state and trait anxiety. The realtionship between oxytocin and state anxiety was modulated by attachment scores. The present results may help interpreting seeming contradictions in the recent literature on oxytocin, attachment, and stress in humans, by suggesting that context effects determine which relationships are found in different studies: anxiolytic effects of oxytocin in a context of partner support versus stress- or cortisol-induced oxytocin responses in a context of distress or increased cortisol.
  • McGregor, H.A., & Elliot, A.J. (2005). The shame of failure: Examining the link between fear of failure and shame. Personality of Social Psychology Bulletin, 31, 218-231.
    Abstract
    The present research was designed to examine hypotheses derived from the proposition that shame is the core of fear of failure. Study 1 was conducted in a naturalistic setting and demonstrated that individuals high in fear of failure reported greater shame upon a preceived failure experience than those low in fear of failure. These findings were obtained controlling for other negative emotions. Study 2 was conducted in a controlled laboratory setting and demonstrated that high fear of failure individuals reported greater shame, overgeneralization, and closeness to their mother (controlling for baseline levels of these variables) than those low in fear of failure. Those high in fear of failure also reported that they would be less likely to tell their mother and father about their failure experience and would be more likely to tell their mother and father about their success experience. The implications of these findings for acquiring a deeper understanding of fear of failure are discussed.
  • Biringen, Z., Robinson, J.L., & Emde, R.N. (2000). Appendix A: the emotional availability scales (2nd ed.; an abridged Infancy/Early Childhood version). Attachment and Human Development, 2, 251-270.
    Abstract
    The 2nd edition of the Emotional Availability Scales consists of .ve general measures of the emotional availability of the mother toward the child and of the child toward the mother. Note that several dimensions in the second edition have a maladaptive upper bound (such as hyper-sensitive, overresponsive, over-involving), which have been eliminated in the third edition.
  • Gergely, G., & Watson, J.S. (1996). The social biofeedback theory of parental affect-morroring: the development of emotional self-awareness and self-control in infancy. International Journal of Psycho-Analysis, 77, 1181-1212.
  • Bowlby, J. (1988). A secure base. New York: Basic Books.

Child neglect: Biobehavioral development of children growing up in residential settings

  • Van IJzendoorn, M.H., Luijk, P.C.M. & Juffer, F. (in press). IQ of children growing up in children's homes: A meta-analysis on IQ delays in orphanages. Merill-Palmer Quarterly.
  • Van IJzendoorn, M.H., Bakermans-Kraneburg, M.J. & Juffer, F. (2007). Plasticity in growth in height, weight, and head circumference: Meta-analytic evidence of massive catch-up after International adoption. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 28, 334-343.
    Abstract
    Are serious growth delays caused by malnutrition and neglect permanent or reversible? The effects of insitutionalization and international adoption on children's physical growth are estimated with meta-analysis. Studies with sufficient data to compute differences between adoptees and the reference population (33 papers with 122 study outcomes) were collected through Web of Science, ERIC (Education Resource Information Centre), PsycINFO (Psychological Literature), and Medline (U.S. National Library of Medicine) (1956-2006). The influcence of pre- and postadoption care on height, weight, and head circumference was tested. Effect sizes (d) and confidence intervals (Cls) around the point estimate for the growth lag indices were computed. The more time spent in institutional care, the more the children lagged behind in physical growth (d=1.71, 95% CI:0.82-2.60, n=893). At adoptive placement, the children showed large delays in height, weight, and head circumference (d=-2.39 to -2.60; n=1331-3753). Although after adoption, they showed almost complete catch-up of height (d=-0.57, 95% CI:-.87 to -0.27, n=3437 adoptees) and weight(d=-.72, 95% CI:-1.04 to -0.39, n=3259 adoptees), catch-up of head circumference seemed slower and remained incomplete (d=-1.56, 95% CI: -2.27 to -0.85, n=257). Later age at arrival was related to less complete catch-up of height and weight. International adoption leads to substantial caych-up of height and weight but not of head circumference, demonstrating differential plasticity of children's physical growth.
  • Van IJzendoorn, M.H. & Juffer, F. (2006). The Emanuel Miller Memorial Lecture 2006: Adoption as intervention. Meta-analytic evidence for massive catch-up and plasticity in physical, socio-emotional, and cognitive development. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 47, 1228-1245.
    Abstract
    Background: Adopted children have been said to be difficult children, scarred by their past experiencees in maltreating families or neglecting orphanages, or by genetic or pre- and perinatal problems. Is (domestic or international) adoption an effective intervention in the developmental domains of physical growth, attachment security, cognitive development and school achievement, self-esteem, and behaviour problems? 
    Method: Through a series of meta-analyses on more than 270 studies that include more than 230,000 adopted and non-adopted children and their parents an adoption catch-up model was tested.
    Results: Although catch-up with current peers was incomplete in some developmental domains (in particular, physical growth and attachment), adopted children largely outperformed their peers left behind. Adoptions before 12 months of age were associated with more complete catch-up than later adoptions did not lead to lower rates of catch-up than domestic adoptions in most developmental domains.
    Conclusions: It is concluded that adoption is an effective intervention leading to massive catch-up. Domestic and international adoptions can be justified on ethical grounds if no other solutions are available. Humans are adapted to adopt, and adoption demonstrates the plasticity of child development.
  • Vorria, P., Papaligoura, Z., Sarafidou, J.,  Kopakaki,, M., Dunn, J., Van IJzendoorn, M.H. & Kontopoulou, A. (2006) The development of adopted children after institutional care: a follow-up study. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 47, 1246-1253.
    Abstract
    Background: Research suggests that instiutional care has long-lasting effects on children. However, no study has longitudinally studied infants in an institution and their subsequent development at age four.
    Methods: Sixty-one adopted children aged four years who had spent their first two years of life in an institution were compated to 39 children reared in their own two-parent families. Cognitive development, security of attachment, shyness, children's emotional understanding and behavioural problems were examined in both groups. Parental health and stress were also assessed.
    Results: At four years adopted children still had lower scores on cognitive development, were less secure, and less able to understand emotions than family-reared children. Children with a secure attachment type in infancy were found to be less secure at age four, compared with those who were classified in infancy as having an insecure attachment type. Their physical development had recovered, they were less shy, had no behavioural problems and no problems in the relationship with their teacher.
    Conclusions: Early residential group care has long-lasting effects on important socio-emotional and cognitive aspects of preschool children's development.
  • Vorria, P., Papaligoura, Z., Dunn, J., Van IJzendoorn, M.H., Steele, H., Kontopoulou, A. & Sarafidou, Y. (2003). Early experiences and attachment relationships of Greek infants raised in residential group care. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 44, 1208-1220.
    Abstract
    Background: The attachmeent relationships of infants reared in residential group care from birth, and links between attachment quality and psychosocial development and caregiver sensitivity were studied, with 86 infants reared in group care and 41 infants reared in their own two-parent families who attended day-care centres.
    Methods: Attachment, cognitive development, temperament, and observed social behaviour of the two groups were studied, as was the quality of care by caregivers and mothers.
    Results: Sixty-six percent of infants reared in residential group care showed disorganised attachment to their caregivers, compared with 25% of control infants; 24% of group care infants were securely attached, compared with 41% of control infants. The two groups differed in cognitive development, in temperament and observed social behaviour. Within the residential group care babies, those that were securely attached were observed to express more frequent positive affect and social behaviour, and to initiate more frequent interaction with their caregivers.
    Conclusions: Residential care affected all aspects of the infants' development and was linked to a high rate of disorganised attachment.

Web editor Child and Family Studies
Last Modified: 23-01-2008