Also, theory and empirical evidence suggest that children’s phenotypes other than conduct problems, including health, disruptive behaviors, and developmental difficulties, may evoke maltreatment (Belsky 1993; Steele 1980; Vasta 1982; Needell and Barth 1998; Sidebotham et al. 2003; Spencer et al. 2006). Assessing the direction of causality of the relationship between these other phenotypes and maltreatment may further elucidate the etiology of maltreatment.
