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Social Desirability Effects on Social Desirability Effects on Children’s Reporting of Children’s Reporting of

Parental Neglect Parental Neglect

Glenda Kaufman Kantor, Ph.D. and Carolyn Mebert, Ph.D.Glenda Kaufman Kantor, Ph.D. and Carolyn Mebert, Ph.D.

Funded by N.I.C.H.D. Grant # RO1MD39144-01Funded by N.I.C.H.D. Grant # RO1MD39144-01

Grant No. 2002-JW-BX-0002 (OJJDP)Grant No. 2002-JW-BX-0002 (OJJDP)

Glenda.Kantor@unh.eduGlenda.Kantor@unh.edu

Challenges in Interviewing and Challenges in Interviewing and Assessing ChildrenAssessing Children

Children’s terminologyChildren’s terminology Language development, grammarLanguage development, grammar Cultural aspects of languageCultural aspects of language ReliabilityReliability Age of childAge of child DistractibilityDistractibility Cognitive abilityCognitive ability Response setsResponse sets Recall biasRecall bias Desire to pleaseDesire to please

Why is it Important to assess social Why is it Important to assess social desirability in children?desirability in children?

Children’s credibility regarded as questionable in Children’s credibility regarded as questionable in their reports of maltreatment by other.their reports of maltreatment by other.

How much confidence can we have in children’s How much confidence can we have in children’s reports of own maltreatment or their reports of reports of own maltreatment or their reports of distress (e.g., depression)?distress (e.g., depression)?

Are children’s reports confounded by social Are children’s reports confounded by social desirability, and in what way and to what extent?desirability, and in what way and to what extent?

Are there differences in social desirability effects Are there differences in social desirability effects by age and maltreatment history (CPS by age and maltreatment history (CPS involvement)?involvement)?

What Might Affect Children’s What Might Affect Children’s Willingness to Report Negative Willingness to Report Negative Aspects of Self or Others?Aspects of Self or Others?

Desire to please or present self in best Desire to please or present self in best possible way (social desirability)possible way (social desirability) Need for affection, admiration, social approvalNeed for affection, admiration, social approval Socialization to do right thingSocialization to do right thing

Love/Protectiveness of parentLove/Protectiveness of parent Fear of consequences to self or parentFear of consequences to self or parent

Explicit (i.e., parental warning) or perceivedExplicit (i.e., parental warning) or perceived

Assessment of Child Neglect Assessment of Child Neglect in in Community and Clinical Community and Clinical

Samples:Samples:Development of the Development of the

Multidimensional Neglect Scale Multidimensional Neglect Scale for Child Self-Reportfor Child Self-Report

Glenda Kaufman Kantor &Glenda Kaufman Kantor &

Murray Straus, Family Murray Straus, Family Research Lab; Carolyn Research Lab; Carolyn

Mebert, UNH, Wendy Brown, Mebert, UNH, Wendy Brown, FRL, Crystal Macallum & Todd FRL, Crystal Macallum & Todd

Flannery, WestatFlannery, Westat

MethodsMethods

EligibilityEligibility

• Clinical Sample Inclusionary CriteriaClinical Sample Inclusionary Criteria- 6-15 yrs old- 6-15 yrs old• Lived in foster care < 6 months (age 6-9)Lived in foster care < 6 months (age 6-9)• Lived in foster care < 1 year (age 10-15)Lived in foster care < 1 year (age 10-15)

• Exclusionary CriteriaExclusionary Criteria• Visually impaired Visually impaired • Hearing impairedHearing impaired• No spoken language abilityNo spoken language ability• Non-English speaking Non-English speaking • Formal diagnosis of mental retardationFormal diagnosis of mental retardation• Deemed “not interviewable” by clinicianDeemed “not interviewable” by clinician

Clinical SampleClinical Sample

• Spurwink Child Abuse ProgramSpurwink Child Abuse Program• Maine DHSMaine DHS• NH DCYFNH DCYF

Community SampleCommunity Sample

Convenience Sample of ChildrenConvenience Sample of Children Children in NH Middle Schools and After-Children in NH Middle Schools and After-

School ProgramsSchool Programs

Total Child Sample Total Child Sample CharacteristicsCharacteristics

Clinical SampleClinical Sample• N = 287N = 287• 46% 6-9 years of age46% 6-9 years of age• 54% 10-15 yrs. of age54% 10-15 yrs. of age• 50% female50% female• 50% male50% male• 8% non-white8% non-white

Community SampleCommunity Sample• N = 207N = 207• 63% 6-9 years of age63% 6-9 years of age• 37% 10-15 yrs. of age37% 10-15 yrs. of age• 52% female52% female• 48% male48% male• 18% non-white18% non-white

Maltreatment Types in ClinicalMaltreatment Types in Clinical SampleSampleNumber & % in Number & % in

GroupGroup

(Total N = 277)(Total N = 277)

Overall TypesOverall Types

NeglectNeglect

Physical abusePhysical abuse

Sexual abuseSexual abuse

Emotional/Psychological abuseEmotional/Psychological abuse

187 (67.5%)187 (67.5%)

79 (28.5%)79 (28.5%)

155 (55.9%)155 (55.9%)

91 (32.9%)91 (32.9%)

““Pure” Categories (Participants with Pure” Categories (Participants with only only oneone designated abuse type) designated abuse type)

NeglectNeglect

Physical abusePhysical abuse

Sexual abuseSexual abuse

Emotional/Psychological abuseEmotional/Psychological abuse

140 (50.5%)140 (50.5%)

61 (22.0%)61 (22.0%)

4 (1.4%)4 (1.4%)

75 (27.0%)75 (27.0%)

0 (0%)0 (0%)

Multiple Abuse TypesMultiple Abuse Types 137 (49.4%)137 (49.4%)

Child & Parent Characteristics in Child & Parent Characteristics in Clinical Sample Clinical Sample

ChildrenChildren 42%42% in clinical sample had some emotional in clinical sample had some emotional

disorder or behavioral disorder (depression, disorder or behavioral disorder (depression, anxiety, ADHD conduct disorder)anxiety, ADHD conduct disorder)

ParentsParents 50%50% Mental illness Mental illness 19%19% Developmental Disability Developmental Disability 45%45% Substance Abuse Problem Substance Abuse Problem 70%70% Domestic Violence Domestic Violence

Child Self-ReportsChild Self-Reports

Multidimensional Neglectful Behavior Scale (MNBS-CR) Multidimensional Neglectful Behavior Scale (MNBS-CR) : Child Self Report Measure of Parental Neglect: Child Self Report Measure of Parental Neglect

• Measures cognitive, emotional, supervision, and Measures cognitive, emotional, supervision, and physical neglectphysical neglect

• Includes subscales on potential areas of child Includes subscales on potential areas of child endangerment: endangerment:

• Exposure to parental conflict & violenceExposure to parental conflict & violence• AbandonmentAbandonment• Parental Substance abuseParental Substance abuse

• Includes subscale on child’s general feelings or Includes subscale on child’s general feelings or Appraisals of each domainAppraisals of each domain

• Includes Child Self-Report Measure of DepressionIncludes Child Self-Report Measure of Depression• Includes Social Desirability ScaleIncludes Social Desirability Scale

Reliability of MNBS-CRReliability of MNBS-CR

Full Scale Alpha Older Children =.94Full Scale Alpha Older Children =.94 Full Scale Alpha Young Children =.76Full Scale Alpha Young Children =.76 Emotional Subscale - highest alphas for both Emotional Subscale - highest alphas for both

young and older childrenyoung and older children

ACASIACASI

• Audio enhanced version of the Computer Audio enhanced version of the Computer Assisted Self-Administered InterviewAssisted Self-Administered Interview

• Uses an audio system and touch screen to Uses an audio system and touch screen to interview childinterview child

• TutorialTutorial• Scale version adapted by Age and Gender of the Scale version adapted by Age and Gender of the

Child and Gender of the Primary CaretakerChild and Gender of the Primary Caretaker • Interactive programInteractive program• Older Children can take IndependentlyOlder Children can take Independently• Computer Game BreakComputer Game Break

This girl’s father doesn’t make her feel better when

she is sad or scared

This girl’s father makes her feel better when she is sad

or scared

Which girl is most like you?

Emotional Neglect Sample ItemEmotional Neglect Sample Item

Is this…

Emotional Neglect Sample Item Cont.Emotional Neglect Sample Item Cont.

A little Sort of A lot Really a lot like you like you like you like you

Which boy is most like you?

This boy sees the grown-ups in the house

hitting each other

This boy does not see the grown-ups in the house

hitting each other

Exposure to Violence ItemExposure to Violence Item

Which girl is most like you?

This girl hears grown-ups in the house

fighting

This girl does not hear grown-ups in the house

fighting

Exposure to Violence ItemExposure to Violence Item

Which boy is most like you?

This boy’s mother does not let other people

in the house hurt him

This boy’s mother lets other people

in the house hurt him

Exposure to Violence ItemExposure to Violence Item

Depression ScaleDepression Scale

Based on Mood/affect subscale of Based on Mood/affect subscale of Depression Profile for Children (Harter & Depression Profile for Children (Harter & Nowakowski, 1987)Nowakowski, 1987)

6 item scale6 item scale Alpha=.87 (Clinical Sample)Alpha=.87 (Clinical Sample)

Which girl is most like you?

Some girls are unhappy a lot of the time

Other girls are pretty happy a lot of the time

Depression Sample ItemDepression Sample Item

Depression Scale ItemsDepression Scale Items Some boys/girls are unhappy a lot of the time Some boys/girls are unhappy a lot of the time

[like the blue boy/girl].[like the blue boy/girl]. Some boys/girls are often sad about things in Some boys/girls are often sad about things in

their life.their life. Some boys/girls feel kind of “down” and Some boys/girls feel kind of “down” and

depressed a lot of the time.depressed a lot of the time. Some boys/girls often feel sad about a lot of Some boys/girls often feel sad about a lot of

the things that happen to them.the things that happen to them. Some boys/girls don’t feel happy very often.Some boys/girls don’t feel happy very often. Some boys/girls feel sad about how their life is Some boys/girls feel sad about how their life is

going.going.

Social Desirability ScaleSocial Desirability Scale

Modified version of Crandall’s Social Modified version of Crandall’s Social Desirability ScaleDesirability Scale

Reduced number of itemsReduced number of items Modified wordingModified wording Changed response optionsChanged response options

Social Desirability ScaleSocial Desirability Scale

I always say please and thank you to grown-ups.I always say please and thank you to grown-ups.

Sometimes I don’t feel like doing what my teachers want me to do.Sometimes I don’t feel like doing what my teachers want me to do.

Sometimes I feel like throwing things or breaking them.Sometimes I feel like throwing things or breaking them.

I never talk back to my parents.I never talk back to my parents.

When I do something wrong, I always say I am sorry.When I do something wrong, I always say I am sorry.

I sometimes feel like making fun of someone.I sometimes feel like making fun of someone.

I always wash my hands before eating.I always wash my hands before eating.

I sometimes feel angry when I don’t get my way.I sometimes feel angry when I don’t get my way.

Sometimes I argue with my parent to do something she doesn’t Sometimes I argue with my parent to do something she doesn’t want me to do.want me to do.

I always do what my parent tells me to do.I always do what my parent tells me to do.

Descriptives & Reliability of Modified Descriptives & Reliability of Modified Crandall Social DesirabilityCrandall Social Desirability Scale Scale

Reliability Computed for Total Sample Reliability Computed for Total Sample (n=136)(n=136)

Potential range of scores: 1-10Potential range of scores: 1-10 Total Sample Mean= 6.38Total Sample Mean= 6.38 Alpha =.64Alpha =.64

RESULTSRESULTS

% Younger Children (6-9 yrs.) Responding Positive for % Younger Children (6-9 yrs.) Responding Positive for Social Desirability by SampleSocial Desirability by Sample

Clinical Clinical (n=14)(n=14)

Cmty. Cmty. (n=49)(n=49)

Signif.Signif.

I always say please and thank you to grown-ups.I always say please and thank you to grown-ups. 79%79% 98%98% p<.05p<.05

Sometimes I don’t feel like doing what my Sometimes I don’t feel like doing what my teachers want me to do.teachers want me to do.

43%43% 51%51%

Sometimes I feel like throwing things or breaking Sometimes I feel like throwing things or breaking them.them.

86%86% 78%78%

I never talk back to my parents.I never talk back to my parents. 50%50% 49%49%When I do something wrong, I always say I am When I do something wrong, I always say I am sorry.sorry.

86%86% 94%94%

I sometimes feel like making fun of someone.I sometimes feel like making fun of someone. 100%100% 80%80% p <.10p <.10

I always wash my hands before eating.I always wash my hands before eating. 93%93% 63%63% P <.05P <.05

I sometimes feel angry when I don’t get my way.I sometimes feel angry when I don’t get my way. 79%79% 48%48% P <.05P <.05

Sometimes I argue with my parent to do Sometimes I argue with my parent to do something she doesn’t want me to do.something she doesn’t want me to do.

79%79% 67%67%

I always do what my parent tells me to do.I always do what my parent tells me to do. 79%79% 82%82%

% Older Children (10-15 yrs.) Responding Positive for % Older Children (10-15 yrs.) Responding Positive for Social Desirability by SampleSocial Desirability by Sample

Clinical Clinical (n=34)(n=34)

Cmty. Cmty. (n=44)(n=44)

Signif.Signif.

I always say please and thank you to grown-ups.I always say please and thank you to grown-ups. 94%94% 84%84%Sometimes I don’t feel like doing what my Sometimes I don’t feel like doing what my teachers want me to do.teachers want me to do.

35%35% 55%55%

Sometimes I feel like throwing things or breaking Sometimes I feel like throwing things or breaking them.them.

44%44% 66%66% p <.05p <.05

I never talk back to my parents.I never talk back to my parents. 39%39% 41%41%When I do something wrong, I always say I am When I do something wrong, I always say I am sorry.sorry.

70%70% 91%91% P <.05P <.05

I sometimes feel like making fun of someone.I sometimes feel like making fun of someone. 65%65% 55%55%I always wash my hands before eating.I always wash my hands before eating. 76%76% 75%75%I sometimes feel angry when I don’t get my way.I sometimes feel angry when I don’t get my way. 24%24% 21%21%Sometimes I argue with my parent to do Sometimes I argue with my parent to do something she doesn’t want me to do.something she doesn’t want me to do.

49%49% 44%44%

I always do what my parent tells me to do.I always do what my parent tells me to do. 39%39% 52%52%

7.717.08

5.395.86

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2

3

4

5

6

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8

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an

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lue

Younger Older

Mean Scores for Social Desirability by Age and Sample

ClinicalCommunity

n=14 n=48 n=31 n=43

F=19.14; p<.001

Correlations for Young Children Correlations for Young Children within Clinical Sample (n=14)within Clinical Sample (n=14)

No significant correlations between social desirability No significant correlations between social desirability (SD) and presenting maltreatment type (e.g., r=-.069, ns)(SD) and presenting maltreatment type (e.g., r=-.069, ns)

No significant correlation between Peabody Picture No significant correlation between Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT and SD) (r=.103, ns).Vocabulary Test (PPVT and SD) (r=.103, ns).

Overall SD decreased reporting of total neglect but no Overall SD decreased reporting of total neglect but no significant correlation between total MNBS & SD significant correlation between total MNBS & SD

(r=-.306). (r=-.306). SD decreased young child’s reports of depression and SD decreased young child’s reports of depression and

core domains of neglectcore domains of neglect Largest SD effect on child reports of exposure to Largest SD effect on child reports of exposure to

violence (r= -.388, p <.10) violence (r= -.388, p <.10)

Correlations for Older Children Correlations for Older Children within Clinical Sample (n=34)*within Clinical Sample (n=34)*

No significant correlations between social desirability No significant correlations between social desirability (SD) and presenting maltreatment type.(SD) and presenting maltreatment type.

No significant correlation between Peabody Picture No significant correlation between Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT and SD).Vocabulary Test (PPVT and SD).

Overall SD significantly decreased reporting of total Overall SD significantly decreased reporting of total neglect and all domains of neglect. neglect and all domains of neglect.

(r=-.306). (r=-.306). SD significantly decreased older child’s reports of SD significantly decreased older child’s reports of

depression (r= -.414).depression (r= -.414).

* Similar results in Community Sample* Similar results in Community Sample

Multivariate Analyses for Young Multivariate Analyses for Young ChildrenChildren

Significant differences by sample in overall Significant differences by sample in overall reports of total neglect and for core reports of total neglect and for core domains (p<.001) with SD as a covariate.domains (p<.001) with SD as a covariate.

Significant differences by sample in Significant differences by sample in reports of depression (F=5.70, p <.001)reports of depression (F=5.70, p <.001)

Strongest effects of SD on Emotional Strongest effects of SD on Emotional Neglect Domain (F=4.429, p <. 05)Neglect Domain (F=4.429, p <. 05)

Multivariate Analyses for Older Multivariate Analyses for Older Children Children (n=58)(n=58)

Significant differences by sample in overall Significant differences by sample in overall reports of total neglect and for core reports of total neglect and for core domains (p<.001), substance abuse and domains (p<.001), substance abuse and Child reports of depression with SD as a Child reports of depression with SD as a covariate.covariate.

All effects of SD on reports of Neglect All effects of SD on reports of Neglect Domains are significant.Domains are significant.

ConclusionsConclusions

Even taking social desirability into Even taking social desirability into account, children in clinical samples report account, children in clinical samples report significantly more neglect and depression significantly more neglect and depression than do children in community samples.than do children in community samples.

Highest rates of SD found among younger Highest rates of SD found among younger children, still reason to give credence to children, still reason to give credence to their reports (and those of older children) their reports (and those of older children) of maltreatment which are likely of maltreatment which are likely understated rather than overstated. understated rather than overstated.

ImplicationsImplications

Need for more research, especially with young Need for more research, especially with young children and with more diverse populations (e.g., children and with more diverse populations (e.g., reasons for less SD effects among olders?).reasons for less SD effects among olders?).

CPS and Law need to value reports of children CPS and Law need to value reports of children (while being aware of tendency to downplay (while being aware of tendency to downplay aversive experiences).aversive experiences).

Findings point to success of this type of Findings point to success of this type of methodology in engaging children and methodology in engaging children and conducting interviews in manner that minimizes conducting interviews in manner that minimizes social confounds.social confounds.