Childhood maltreatment involves dynamics between the type of maltreatment experienced and the context of maltreatment. Reports of alleged maltreatment to child protective services may overlap and shift over time, complicating understanding of their independent and interacting nature, including how child protection systems respond. Latent class analysis (LCA) and latent transition analysis (LTA) were used to construct data-based models of longitudinal dynamics of alleged maltreatment throughout childhood. We sought to identify patterns leading to system decisions to substantiate allegations of maltreatment and place children in foster care. Using linked birth and child protection records, we defined a cohort of children born in California in 1999, 29.4% of whom had at least one referral for alleged maltreatment before their 18th birthday. Maltreatment and perpetrator indicators were coded, and LCA identified five alleged maltreatment classes and one class of children without referrals. LTA determined consistency of classifications and estimated transitions between classes over age periods. Children with multitype maltreatment patterns or experiences of neglect were most likely to experience future maltreatment allegations. Estimated probabilities of placement indicated children with Multitype Maltreatment allegations were more likely to experience substantiated maltreatment allegations and out-of-home placements. Findings identify a repeatable method for better understanding complex systems.

儿童期虐待涉及所经历的虐待类型与虐待背景之间的动态关系。据称虐待儿童保护服务的报告可能会随着时间的推移重叠和变化，从而使对其独立和互动性质的理解变得复杂，包括儿童保护系统如何应对。潜在类别分析 (LCA) 和潜在转换分析 (LTA) 用于构建基于数据的整个童年时期涉嫌虐待的纵向动态模型。我们试图确定导致系统决策的模式，以证实虐待指控并将儿童置于寄养中。使用关联的出生和儿童保护记录，我们定义了 1999 年在加利福尼亚州出生的一组儿童，其中 29.4% 的儿童在 18 岁之前至少有一次因涉嫌虐待而被转诊。虐待和施暴者指标被编码，LCA 确定了五类被指控的虐待类和一类没有转诊的儿童。LTA 确定了分类的一致性并估计了不同年龄段的类别之间的过渡。具有多种虐待模式或被忽视经历的儿童最有可能在未来遭受虐待指控。估计的安置概率表明，受到多种虐待指控的儿童更有可能遭受经证实的虐待指控和离家安置。研究结果确定了一种可重复的方法，可以更好地理解复杂系统。LTA 确定了分类的一致性并估计了不同年龄段的类别之间的过渡。具有多种虐待模式或被忽视经历的儿童最有可能在未来遭受虐待指控。估计的安置概率表明，受到多种虐待指控的儿童更有可能遭受经证实的虐待指控和离家安置。研究结果确定了一种可重复的方法，可以更好地理解复杂系统。LTA 确定了分类的一致性并估计了不同年龄段的类别之间的过渡。具有多种虐待模式或被忽视经历的儿童最有可能在未来遭受虐待指控。估计的安置概率表明，受到多种虐待指控的儿童更有可能遭受经证实的虐待指控和离家安置。研究结果确定了一种可重复的方法，可以更好地理解复杂系统。估计的安置概率表明，受到多种虐待指控的儿童更有可能遭受经证实的虐待指控和离家安置。研究结果确定了一种可重复的方法，可以更好地理解复杂系统。估计的安置概率表明，受到多种虐待指控的儿童更有可能遭受经证实的虐待指控和离家安置。研究结果确定了一种可重复的方法，可以更好地理解复杂系统。