A Meta-Analysis of Cross Sectional Studies Investigating Language in Maltreated Children

Abstract

Purpose In this review article, meta-analysis was used to summarize research investigating language skills in maltreated children. Method A systematic search of published studies was undertaken. Studies were included in the meta-analysis if they investigated language skills in groups comprising maltreated and nonmaltreated children. Studies were selected if these 2 groups of children were of comparable age and from a similar socioeconomic background. Results A total of 26 studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria. Results from the meta-analysis showed that maltreated children demonstrated consistently poorer language skills with respect to receptive vocabulary ( k = 19; standardized mean difference [SMD] = .463; 95% confidence interval [CI; .293, .634]; p < .001), expressive language ( k = 4; SMD =.860; 95% CI [.557, 1.163]; p < .001), and receptive language ( k = 9; SMD =.528; 95% CI [.220, .837]; p < .001). Conclusion Together, these results indicate a reliable association between child maltreatment and poor language skills. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.6170318