Latent Class Analysis Risk Profiles: An Effective Method to Predict a First Re-Report of Maltreatment?

Publication date: Available online 6 February 2020Source: Evaluation and Program PlanningAuthor(s): Hyunil Kim, Melissa Jonson-Reid, Patricia Kohl, Chien-jen Chiang, Brett Drake, Derek Brown, Tim McBride, Shenyang GuoAbstractRecurrence of child maltreatment is a significant concern causing substantial individual, family and societal cost. Variable-based approaches to identifying targets for intervention may not reflect the reality that families may experience multiple co-occurring risks. An alternative approach was tested using baseline data from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-being (NSCAW) I and II to develop Latent Class Analysis models of family risk classes using variables derived from prior studies of re-reporting. The samples were collected approximately 10 years apart offering a chance to test how the approach might be impacted by demographic or policy shifts. The association between baseline classes and later re-reports was tested using both samples. A two-class model of high versus low presence of baseline risk resulted that was strongly associated with later likelihood of re-report and results were relatively stable across the two studies. Person-centered approaches may hold promise in the early identification of families that require a more comprehensive array of supports to prevent re-reports of maltreatment.

Source: Evaluation and Program Planning - February 8, 2020 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research