The MCS utilizes DHS records detailing investigations and findings involving maltreatment in identified families over time. Rather than relying on official designations and case dispositions, the MCS codes all available information from DHS records, making independent determinations of maltreatment experiences. Based on operational criteria, the MCS designates all of the subtypes of maltreatment children have experienced (i.e., neglect, emotional maltreatment, physical abuse, sexual abuse). Coding of the DHS records was conducted by trained research assistants, doctoral students, and clinical psychologists. Adequate reliability has been obtained (weighted κs = 0.86–0.98; Manly, 2005; Manly, Kim, Rogosch, & Cicchetti, 2001). Other investigators have demonstrated that the MCS is reliable and valid in classifying maltreatment (Bolger & Patterson, 2001; English et al., 2005; Manly, Cicchetti, & Barnett, 1994; Manly et al., 2001; Stouthamer-Loeber, Loeber, Homish, & Wei, 2001). Among the maltreated children, 69.5% had experienced neglect, 54.8% had experienced emotional maltreatment, 36.3% had experienced physical abuse, and 12.7% had experienced sexual abuse. As is typical in maltreated populations (Bolger & Patterson, 2001; Manly et al., 1994, 2001), the majority of maltreated participants had experienced multiple subtypes of maltreatment. Specifically, 60.7% of the maltreated children had experienced two or more maltreatment subtypes.
