Abstract
Data from a longitudinal inner-city community sample were used to examine the prevalence of child maltreatment in males and to relate this to early persistent serious delinquent child behavior. By age 13 almost one fifth of the families had been referred to Children and Youth Services for substantiated maltreatment. Almost half of the maltreated boys showed persistent serious delinquency. Using a sample of maltreated cases and controls matched on age, race, and neighborhood, this study addressed whether similar risk factors apply to both maltreatment and persistent serious delinquency. Findings showed that certain family interaction and demographic handicaps were related to maltreatment as well as to persistent serious delinquency. When accounting for family and demographic factors, having been maltreated had an independent effect on persistent serious delinquency. However, when interactions were taken into account, the effect of maltreatment on delinquency was moderated by family demographic factors.