Externaliserend probleemgedrag bij kind, kindermishandeling en risico op uithuisplaatsing: Verstandelijke beperking bij ouders als moderator?

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine whether there are associations between child’s externalizing problem behavior and child maltreatment on the one hand and out-of-home placement on the other hand and whether parental intellectual disability moderates these associations. Method: A total of 286 files of juveniles with a supervision order (in Dutch ondertoezichtstelling or OTS) aged 0-18 years were assessed by dichotomously coding the variables ‘child’s externalizing problem behavior’, ‘child maltreatment’, ‘parental intellectual disability’ and ‘out-of-home placement’ using scoring forms. Results: The results of the multiple logistic regression analysis showed that child’s externalizing problem behavior and parental intellectual disability are significant explanatory variables for out-of-home placement. Child maltreatment is not a significant explanatory variable for out-of-home placement. Moreover, the results of the moderation analysis showed a significant interaction effect between child’s externalizing problem behavior and parental intellectual disability on out-of-home placement which means that a child with externalizing problem behavior has a higher risk of being placed out-of-home when parents have an intellectual disability. There is no significant interaction effect for child maltreatment and parental intellectual disability on out-of-home placement. Discussion: In conclusion, to prevent or shorten out-of-home placements as much as possible, prevention and intervention programs should specifically target children with externalizing problem behavior and parents with an intellectual disability. An intervention program which can prevent out-of-home placements is intensive outpatient family treatment (in Dutch intensieve ambulante gezinsbehandeling). Limitations and implications are discussed.