Skip to main content
Log in

The effects of familial risk factors on social-cognitive abilities in children

  • Articles
  • Published:
Child Psychiatry and Human Development Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Consistent with the results of previous studies of children with depressed parents, the present investigation of social-cognitive abilities with schizophrenic parents yields no evidence of deleterious effects of parental psychopathology. Similarly, maltreatment was not associated with social-cognitive deficits. The central conclusion to be drawn from these results is that social-cognition does not mediate the effects of these risk factors on child behavior, although social-cognition may serve as a moderator.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Cantor N, Kihlstrom J:Personality and Social Intelligence. New York: Prentice Hall, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Kendall P: Comments on Rubin and Krasnor. Solutions and problems in research problem solving. In M. Perlmutter (Ed.)Cognitive Perspective on Children's Social and Behavioral Development. Hillsdale, New Jersey, Erlbaum, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Rubin K, Krasnor L: Social-cognitive and social behavioral perspectives on problem solving. In M. Perlmutter (Ed)The Minnesota Symposium on Child Psychology. Hillsdale, New Jersey, Erlbaum, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Kendall P, Fischler G: Behavioral and adjustment correlates of problem solving: Validation analyses of interpersonal cognitive problem-solving measures.Child Dev 55:879–892, 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Beardslee W, Schultz L, Selman R: Level of social cognitive development, adaptive functioning and DSM III diagnoses in adolescent offspring of parents with affective disorders: Implications for the development of capability for mutuality.Dev. Psy 23:807–815, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Pelligrini D, Kosiski S, Nachman D, Cytryn L, McKnew D, Gershon E, Hamovit J, Cammuso K: Personal and social resources in children of patients with bipolar affective disorders and children of normal subjects.Am J of Psychiat 143:856–861, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Barahal R, Waterman J, Martin H; The social-cognitive development of abused children.J Consult and Clinic Psy 49:508–516, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Weintraub S: Risk factors in schizophrenia.Psy Bull 13:439–450, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Wynne L, Cole R, Perkins P: The University of Rochester Child and Family Study.Schizophr Bull 13:463–476, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Cicchetti D, Rizley R: Developmental perspectives on the etiology, intergenerational transmission and sequelae of child maltreatment. In R. Rizley & D. Cicchetti (Eds.),New directions for child development, 11:31–55. San Francisco, Jossey Bass, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Friedlich W, Einbender A: The abused child: A psychological review.J Clinic Child Psy 12:244–256, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  12. George C, Main M: Social interactions of young abused children: Approach, avoidance, and aggression.Child Dev 50:306–318, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Izard C:The Face of Emotion. New York, Appleton, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Fields, S.: Discrimination of facial expression and its relationship to personal adjustment.Am Psy 5:309, 1950.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Forsyth, G.: Cue utilization in judging facial expression related to school performance.J Soc Psy 104:253–261, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Rosenthal R, Hall J, DiMattea M, Rogers P, Archer D:Sensitivity to Nonverbal Communication. Baltimore, Johns Hopkins Press, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Spivack G, Platt J, Shure M:The Problem Solving Approach to Adjustment. San Francisco, Jossey-Bass, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Neale J, Winters K, Weintraub S: Information processing deficits in children at high-risk for schizophrenia. In N. Watt, E.J. Anthony, L. Wynne & J. Rolf (Eds.)Children at Risk for Schizophrenia: A Longitudinal Perspective (pp.264–278) New York, Cambridge, 1984.

  19. Pettit G, Dodge K, Brown M: Early family experience, social problem solving patterns and children's social competence.Child Dev 59:107–120, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Herrenkohl R, Herrenkohl E: Some antecedents and developmental consequences of child maltreatment. In R. Rizley & D. Cicchetti (Eds.),New Directions for Child Development 11:57–76, 1981.

  21. Jaffe P, Wolfe D, Wilson S, Zak L: Similarities in behavioral and social adjustment among child victims and witnesses to family violence.Am J Orthopsychiat 56:142–146, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Watt N, Wynne L, Anthony E, Rolf J:Children at risk for schizophrenia: A Longitudinal Perspective. New York, Cambridge, 1984.

  23. Beardslee W, Bemporad J, Keller M, Klerman G: Children of parents with major affective disorder: A review.Am J Psychiat 160:825–832, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  24. West M, Prinz R: Parental alcoholism and childhood psychopathology.Psy Bull 102:204–218, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  25. McGlashan T: Testing four diagnostic systems for schizophrenia.Arch Gen Psychiat 41:141–144, 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Pelton L: Child abuse and neglect: The myth of classlessness.Am. J Orthopsychiat 48:608–617, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Marsh D, Serafica F, Barenhoim C: Effects of perspective taking training on interpersonal problem solving.Child Dev 50:140–145, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Shure M, Spinack G: Means-ends thinking, adjustment and problem solving in school-aged children.J Consult and Clinic Psy 38:348–353, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  29. D'Zurilla T, Goldfried M: Problem solving and behavior modification.J of Abnormal Psy 78:107–126, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Dodge K: A social information processing model of social competence in children. In M. Perlmutter (Ed)The Minnesota Symposia on Child Psychology. Hillsdale, New Jersey, Erlbaum, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Dodge K, Frame C: Social-cognitive biases and deficits in aggressive boys.Child Dev 53:620–635, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Dodge K, Pettit G, McClaskey C, Brown M: Social competence in children.Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development 51:2, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Dolgin, K: Needed steps for social competence: Strengths and present limitations of Dodge's model.The Minnesota Symposia on Child Psychology. Hillsdale, New Jersey, Erlbaum, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Walker E, Cudeck R, Mednick S, Schulsinger F: The effects of parental absence and institutionalization on the development of clinical symptoms in high-risk children.Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 63:95–109, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

This research was supported by a grant to the first author from the W. T. Grant Foundation.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Walker, E.F., Downey, G. The effects of familial risk factors on social-cognitive abilities in children. Child Psych Hum Dev 20, 253–267 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00706018

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00706018

Key words

Navigation