Provision of Healthcare and Children’s Psychological Maltreatment

In this research, we investigate the relationship between provision of healthcare and psychological maltreatment (PM) in children. The study hypothesizes that parents’ difficulties in provision of healthcare, specifically in buying medications (potential medical neglect), may be related to increased psychological maltreatment towards their children due to stress. We discuss the definition and significant consequences of psychological maltreatment on children’s development. The study includes 680 mothers of children under the age of 18, who participated in a cross-sectional representative anonymous survey conducted in Colorado. The survey used components of the Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scale and of the Dimensions of Discipline Inventory (DDI) to measure psychological maltreatment and a separate questionnaire was employed to assess provision of healthcare. The logistic regression analyses showed that parents’ difficulties in provision of healthcare were significantly associated with increased psychological maltreatment towards their children. The study provides key insights into the relationship between provision of healthcare and psychological maltreatment, highlighting the importance of addressing barriers in provision of healthcare to prevent child maltreatment.