Problem: How can I make notes with bullet points in this paragraph? When parents fail: peer rejection of abused children Parental abuse of children is likely to interfere with children's development of good peer relationships. Researchers have found that chronically abused children are more likely to be rejected by their peers, and the more extensive the abuse, the greater the rejection (see Figure 8.4; Bolger & Patterson, 2001; Cicchetti & Toth, 2015). Abused children have difficulty forming and maintaining friendships, especially if the abuse occurred in the preschool years. Children who are physically abused are likely to be rejected because they are aggressive. Abused children are also often unable to regulate their emotions (Cicchetti & Ng, 2014), and this too leads to peer rejection (Shields et al., 2001). Being abused increases the likelihood that peers will victimize children, especially boys, just as their parents have (Schwartz et al., 1997). Children who are neglected by their parents are also more likely to be neglected by their peers (Bolger et al., 1998; Garbarino & Kostelny, 2002). Need Assignment Help?