About the review
The systematic review evaluates the scientific literature on parent-child interaction published up until November 2014.
It aims to answer the following clinical question:
- What are the features of parent-child interactions amongst neglected and/or emotionally abused children aged 0-14 years?
Neglect is the most common form of child abuse, but frequently goes unrecognised.
This review studies the effects of poor parent-child interactions by looking at the features of neglect in the following age groups; 0-7 months, 18 months-3 years, 4-5 years and 6-14 years.
The implications for practice and research, and other useful references are included in the review.
Key findings
- Careful observation and documentation of the parent-child interactions is an essential element in the recognition of the emotionally abused / neglected pre-school child.
- It is a significant omission from the scientific literature that no studies have been conducted on neglect / emotional abuse between fathers and young children.
- When evaluating children for possible neglect / emotional abuse, it is essential to obtain detailed reports from all those working with the family, including nursery nurses, health visitors, playschool teachers, etc.
Disclaimer: This is a summary of the systematic review findings up to the date of our most recent literature search. If you have a specific clinical case, we strongly recommend you read all of the relevant references as cited and look for additional material published outside our search dates
Original reviews and content © Cardiff University, funded by NSPCC
Published by RCPCH July 2017
While the format of each review has been revised to fit the style of the College and amalgamated into a comprehensive document, the content remains unchanged until reviewed and new evidence is identified and added to the evidence-base. Updated content will be indicated on individual review pages.