Neglect Potential in Adolescent Mothers, Predicting Reported Neglect and Psychopathology in Their Children

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of using the Mother Child Neglect Scale, a measure of neglect potential, to predict subsequent perpetration of neglect by evaluating associations between scores on this self-reported measure and child self-reported neglect at two subsequent time points, to determine whether maternal self-reported neglect potential is associated with child internalizing and externalizing symptoms, and to determine whether child self-reported neglect mediates associations between maternal neglect potential and child internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Participants (N = 134) included adolescent mothers and their children who were part of a larger, longitudinal study. The current study drew from data collected in middle childhood as well as 14-year and 18-year visits. For the main analysis, a structural equation model of the direct effects of maternal neglect potential on child self-reported neglect and child internalizing and externalizing was evaluated. In addition, indirect effects of maternal neglect potential on child internalizing and externalizing through child self-reported neglect was evaluated. There was a significant direct effect of maternal neglect potential on child neglect at age 14. Furthermore, there was a significant indirect effect of maternal neglect potential on child internalizing problems through neglect at age 14. Implications include the use of the MCNS as a potential screening measure for those most at risk for perpetrating neglect on their children along with potential interventions aimed at adolescents who have experienced neglect in order to prevent the development of internalizing symptoms into adulthood.