During Phase 1 of the study, children attended a week-long day camp program and participated in research assessments (see Cicchetti & Manly, 1990, for detailed descriptions of camp procedures). At the camp, children were assigned to groups of eight (four maltreated, four nonmaltreated) same-age and same-sex peers. Each group was led by three trained camp counselors, who were unaware of the maltreatment status of children and the hypotheses of the study. The camp lasted 7 hr/day for 5 days, providing 35 hr of interaction between children and counselors. In addition to the recreational activities, after providing assent, children participated in various research assessments. Trained research assistants, who also were unaware of research hypotheses and maltreatment status, conducted individual research sessions with children, in which questionnaires and other research measures were administered. Clinical consultation and intervention occurred if any concerns over danger to self or others emerged during research sessions. The counselors, who had been trained extensively for 2 weeks prior to the camp, also completed assessment measures on individual children, based on their 35 hr of observations and interactions with children in their respective groups.
