BACKGROUND: The number of recent media reports of child maltreatment (CM) at international professional ballet schools surpasses the few studies on CM in dance. In general, studies on dance largely focus on psychological maltreatment. There is also little research on student experiences across the entire professional ballet school context, which typically include dance, academic, social life, and healthcare experiences, and for some students, living in residence or a homestay from a young age.
OBJECTIVE: To explore how former professional ballet school students characterize and make sense of experiences of CM across the entire school context in dance training, academics, social life, living (e.g., in residence, homestay), and healthcare.
METHODS: Participants were 15 former professional ballet school students (12 women, three men) aged 18-27 years old across six countries.
METHODS: Data from online semi-structured interviews and questionnaires were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.
RESULTS: Experiences were interpreted in the wider context of participants\' former ballet schools. Themes included: 1) psychological maltreatment in and beyond the studio; 2) neglect and devaluation: costs of over-prioritizing ballet; 3) physicalabuse: outdated but still rationalized as instrumental; and 4) sexual abuse in blurred private and public spaces.
CONCLUSIONS: Participants used CM vocabulary to describe their own and peers\' experiences and emphasized that CM should not be normalized. Sense making about experiences suggested a need for more ballet school community awareness about the multiple potential forms of harm of CM, as well as more research, intervention, and advocacy about CM at ballet schools.

UNASSIGNED: The Reminiscing and Emotion Training (RET) intervention targets and improves maltreating mothers\' elaboration and sensitivity in reminiscing (conversations about past emotional events), as well as children\'s emotion knowledge. However, in previous studies of RET, improvements in mothers\' elaborative and sensitive reminiscing did not explain improvements in children\'s emotion knowledge. Thus, we evaluated whether RET is associated with improved maternal autonomy support during reminiscing and whether improved autonomy support is associated with enhanced child emotion knowledge after RET.
UNASSIGNED: The sample included 248 mothers (165 maltreating and 83 nonmaltreating) and their 3- to 6-year-old children involved in a randomized controlled trial of RET. At baseline, we assessed maternal and child receptive language, dyadic reminiscing, and children\'s emotion knowledge. Then, maltreating mothers were randomized either to receive RET or participate in an active control condition including case management and written parenting materials. Nonmaltreating mothers did not receive intervention and participated as an additional control group. Families then completed an eight-week follow-up assessment.
UNASSIGNED: Maltreating mothers displayed significantly less baseline autonomy support during reminiscing than nonmaltreating mothers (partial eta squared = .028). Contrary to hypotheses, RET did not significantly improve autonomy support. However, baseline autonomy support was significantly and positively correlated with children\'s emotion knowledge at baseline (r = .20) and follow-up (r = .18).
UNASSIGNED: Autonomy support during reminiscing may play a role in the development of emotion knowledge. Implications for developmental theory and clinical practice are discussed.

The present study is one of the largest quasi-experimental studies to date on the effects of home visiting on documented child maltreatment during a child\'s first two years of life. In this matched comparison group study, we compare 8796 families that participated in a home visiting program (HV families) to 8796 similar non-participating families (non-HV families) selected from birth records using Coarsened Exact Matching. Using sequential logistic regression, we identify that HV families have significantly higher odds of experiencing a child maltreatment investigation by their child\'s second birthday compared to non-HV families; however, among those that were investigated, HV families have significantly lower odds of having their first investigation substantiated for maltreatment. Overall, HV families do not differ significantly from non-HV families in the odds of experiencing a substantiated investigation over 2 years. We share implications for considering surveillance bias, and we highlight the importance of including both substantiated and unsubstantiated investigations when studying the effects of home visiting on documented child maltreatment.

BACKGROUND: Despite a large body of evidence linking the impact of trauma, parenting, and child maltreatment recidivism, current child welfare services often do not target maternal trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Moreover, there is little evidence that traditional family preservation services (FPS) lower the rates of repeat incidences of child abuse and neglect. The novel intervention, Parenting-STAIR (P-STAIR), seeks to address maternal mental health and parenting skills in order to reduce punitive parenting behaviors.
OBJECTIVE: This study analyzes the effects of P-STAIR on child maltreatment risk.
METHODS: P-STAIR was administered to 112 child welfare-involved mothers in New York City (NYC). The mothers were between 18 and 52 years old (M = 31.1, SD = 6.6) and were referred from 4 child welfare preventive service agencies in NYC.
METHODS: To evaluate change over time in indicators of maltreatment risk, two-tailed paired sample t-tests compared 1) pre- and post-treatment scores and 2) pre-treatment and 3-month follow-up scores.
RESULTS: Among the 71 mothers who completed treatment, significant improvements from baseline to post-assessment and pre- to 3-month follow-up were observed across total scores on the CTSPC and the AAPI-2. Improvements were evident in nonviolent disciple, psychological aggression, expectations, empathy, and parent-child family roles at both the post-assessment and 3-month follow-up which are proximal outcomes of P-STAIR (CTSPC: pre-post nonviolent disciple d = 0.70; pre-post psychological aggression d = 0.34; pre-follow-up nonviolent disciple d = 0.42; pre-follow-up psychological aggression d = 0.36; AAPI-2; pre-post expectations d = 0.31; pre-post empathy d = 0.39; pre-post parent-child roles d = 0.47; pre-follow-up expectations d = 0.33; pre-follow-up empathy d = 0.42; pre-follow-up parent-child roles d = 0.66).
CONCLUSIONS: The improvement in indicators of maltreatment risk demonstrates promising support for the utility of P-STAIR within the child welfare system.

Limited research is available examining distal child welfare outcomes after participation in evidence-based parenting interventions. To address this gap, this study employed a multi-tiered analytic approach to examine child welfare outcomes after participation in Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (ABC). Using propensity score analytic techniques to establish a matched comparison group, logistic regressions examined subsequent maltreatment reports and substantiation, and survival analyses observed time to and likelihood of reunification for children who received one of three ABC curriculums compared to comparison group children (child welfare services as usual). In total, 205 children were included in the impact analysis (n = 66 treatment; n = 139 comparison); the majority of the children were White (53.7%), non-Hispanic (84.4%), males (59.5%) with an average age of 6 months (M [SD] = .50 [1.0]). Over half (56.1%) of the study sample was in out-of-home placement; 23.5% of the removed children experienced reunification. No statistically significant group differences were observed on the likelihood of subsequent or substantiated maltreatment reports. All three ABC curriculums were associated with a statistically significant increased likelihood of reunification, when compared to their matched counterpart. Additional research is warranted, though results indicate ABC may be a promising intervention to help enhance the likelihood of reunification.

BACKGROUND: Child maltreatment (CM) includes neglect, and several types of abuse, including physical, emotional, and sexual. CM has been associated with a wide range of mental illnesses. Literature examining these illnesses in mid-life is scarce, and the impact of these illnesses on mental health service use is currently unknown.
OBJECTIVE: To examine associations between self-reported CM and subsequent hospital admissions for mental illnesses, and/or community mental health service contacts.
METHODS: Birth cohort study data linked to administrative health data, including hospital admissions and community mental health service contacts, up to the age of 40.
METHODS: Associations between hospital admissions for mental health and community mental health contacts and CM subtypes (neglect, physical abuse, emotional abuse and sexual abuse) were examined using multivariate logistic regression.
RESULTS: Adjusted analyses showed that all subtypes of CM were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with admissions to hospital for any type of mental illness (aOR range 1.87-3.61), non-psychotic mental disorders (aOR range 1.98-3.61), alcohol and/or substance use (aOR range 2.83-5.43), and community mental health service contacts (aOR range 2.44-3.13). Hospital admissions for psychotic mental disorders were significantly associated with physical abuse, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse (aOR range 2.14-3.93).
CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study confirm the current knowledge around CM and subsequent mental health illnesses up to the age of 40, and extend this knowledge to hospital and mental health service use.

The present study examined three empirically-derived childhood adversity dimensions as predictors of social, psychological, and symptom outcomes across three prospective assessments of a young adult sample. Participants were assessed five times over eight years with semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. The analyses used the dimensions underlying multiple subscales from well-established childhood adversity measures administered at the first two assessment waves (described in a previous report). Outcome data pertain to the last three assessment waves, with sample sizes ranging from 89 to 169. As hypothesized, the childhood adversity dimensions demonstrated overlapping and differential longitudinal associations with the outcomes. Deprivation predicted the negative (deficit-like) dimension of psychosis, while Threat and Intrafamilial Adversity predicted the positive (psychotic-like) dimension. Depression and anxiety symptoms were predicted by different childhood adversity dimensions over time. Furthermore, Threat predicted a smaller and less diverse social network, Intrafamilial Adversity predicted anxious attachment, and Deprivation predicted a smaller social network, anxious and avoidant attachment, perceived social support, and loneliness. The three adversity dimensions combined accounted for moderate to large proportions of variance in several outcomes. These results extend prior work by identifying associations of three meaningful dimensions of childhood adversity with different risk profiles across psychological, social, and psychopathological domains. The findings enhance our understanding of the impact of childhood adversity across young adulthood.

BACKGROUND: Child maltreatment is a global problem that puts children at risk of mental illness, substance abuse, and premature death. Interdisciplinary collaboration is important in preventing and detecting child maltreatment. In Norway, children undergo universal preventive health assessments and receive complimentary follow-up care from specialized public health nurses in child and family health clinics. These nurses conduct regular check-ups and home visits to monitor children for signs of maltreatment.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to describe how public health nurses at child and family health clinics follow the National Clinical Guidelines to prevent and detect child maltreatment, with a particular focus on clinical procedures and interdisciplinary collaboration. Furthermore, we aim to determine factors that are associated with identification of child maltreatment.
METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among public health nurses working in primary care between October 24th and December 31st, 2022. Public health nurses who worked with children aged 0-5 years and had consultations with families were eligible to participate, resulting in 554 responses. The study employed descriptive analysis, including frequency, percentage and mean, as well as a two-step logistic regression analysis. The study was approved by the relevant authority, and informed consent was obtained through questionnaire completion.
RESULTS: The public health nurses in this study displayed strong adherence to the guidelines and utilized various comprehensive assessment procedures to monitor child well-being, growth, and development. However, there was limited and infrequent collaboration with other professionals, such as child protection services, general practitioners, and hospitals. Most public health nurses reported occasional suspicion of child maltreatment, with age and years of experience in child and family clinics influencing these suspicions. Older public health nurses were more likely to suspect physical violence, while those with less than two years of experience reported less experience in suspecting maltreatment. Additional education increased the probability of suspecting sexual violence.
CONCLUSIONS: This study provides insights into the practices of public health nurses in Norway regarding the detection and prevention of child maltreatment in child and family clinics. While adherence to guidelines is strong, suspicion of maltreatment is relatively rare. Collaboration across agencies is crucial in addressing child maltreatment. Age and experience may influence the detection of maltreatment. Improved collaboration, targeted guidelines, and ongoing professional development are needed to enhance child protection.

BACKGROUND: Child physical abuse, a type of child maltreatment (CM), poses a significant global public health concern. Nonaccidental fractures and soft tissue injuries, which encompass any action that directly or indirectly harms a child, are the primary indicators of physical abuse in children.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes of accidental and nonaccidental skeletal fractures in a sample of Egyptian children.
METHODS: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted between March 2022 and August 2022. A total of 156 children who presented with skeletal injuries and attended Mobarak Central Hospital were enrolled. Patients were subjected to full history taking, complete examination, and investigations. A structured questionnaire was administered to all the legal guardians.
RESULTS: Physical abuse was reported in 22.4 % of cases, while medical neglect was reported in 19.9 % of cases. The incidence of physical abuse was notably higher among children whose fathers were smokers and/or drug addicts (p ≤ 0.05). The most common form of physical abuse was hitting (94.3 %). Among skeletal injuries, fractures were predominant (94.3 %), primarily closed fractures associated with contusions. Fractures of the upper limb accounted for the highest incidence (94.3 %) of skeletal injuries, and 60 % of physically abused children experienced moderate-severity injuries.
CONCLUSIONS: The most common fracture observed in abused children is the upper limb fracture, typically involving a single bone. Clinicians should be more vigilant in suspecting abuse, even in cases where there is an isolated fracture, and advocate for the development of parental training programs.

BACKGROUND: Child maltreatment (CM) is correlated with suicidality risk among adolescents. Additionally, exposure to bisphenol AF (BPAF) may increase this risk. However, the combined effect of CM and BPAF exposure remains unknown and should be further investigated.
METHODS: In this study, 1,475 early adolescents (mean age = 12.48 years) from the Chinese Early Adolescents Cohort were enrolled. Data were collected at three time points with an interval of 12 months between 2019 and 2021. Participants\' history of CM and suicidality (including suicidal ideation and suicidal attempts) were evaluated using a self-report questionnaire. Blood samples were obtained from participants to measure serum BPAF concentrations at baseline. Group-based trajectory modeling was employed to identify different developmental trajectories of suicidality across the three waves. After adjusting for potential confounders, the association between CM and BPAF exposure on suicidal ideation and suicidal attempts was assessed using logistic regression and Poisson regression analyses.
RESULTS: Participants with CM were associated with a risk of one- and two-year incident suicidality (all ps < 0.05), and BPAF levels were positively associated with two-year incident suicidal ideation (adjusted OR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.13-2.50). Additionally, middle and high levels of BPAF exposure synergistically increase the risk for one- and two-year incident suicidal ideation among participants with CM (adjusted ORs = 2.00-3.83). Similarly, participants exposed to high-level BPAF as well as CM were at a greater risk of one- and two-year incident suicidal attempts than those with low-level BPAF exposure and no CM (adjusted incidence rate ratio [IRRs] = 2.82-4.34). Moreover, compared with participants with a low developmental trajectory of suicidality across the three waves, high BPAF exposure exhibited a significant synergistic effect on participants with CM in the persistently high suicidal ideation trajectory and the increasing suicidal attempts trajectory (all ps < 0.05). Sex subgroup analysis revealed that females were more susceptible to the synergistic effect of BPAF and CM exposure on suicidality than males.
CONCLUSIONS: Environmental factors and the psychological status of individuals may synergistically increase their susceptibility to suicidality. These results offer novel insights into enhancing our understanding of suicidality among adolescents.