A Population-Level and Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Mothers and Intergenerational Maltreatment

Abstract

For teenage mothers in California, we generated population-level estimates of the relationship between maternal history of maltreatment and next-generation abuse and neglect. California birth records for all infants born to primiparous teen mothers in 2006 or 2007 were linked to statewide child protective services (CPS) records. For each birth, we used CPS records to document 1) whether the teen mother had a history of reported or substantiated maternal maltreatment at or after age 10 years and before the estimated date of conception and 2) whether the teen's child was reported or substantiated for maltreatment before age 5 years. We fitted multivariable survival models to examine the association between a teenage mother's CPS involvement and child maltreatment, after adjusting for a range of sociodemographic variables. Our final data set included 85,084 births to first-time mothers aged 15-19 years. Significantly heightened rates of abuse and neglect were observed for children of mothers who had been reported to CPS as possible victims of maltreatment (P < 0.001). After adjustment for other risk factors, a maternal history of either unsubstantiated (hazard ratio = 2.19, 95% confidence interval: 2.06, 2.33) or substantiated (hazard ratio = 3.19, 95% confidence interval: 3.00, 3.39) maltreatment emerged as a strong predictor of maltreatment and CPS involvement in the next generation.

STD and Abortion Prevalence in Adolescent Mothers With Histories of Childhood Protection Involvement

“…Maltreatment was substantiated in only 18% of CPS investigations . A growing body of research, however, indicates the fallibility of substantiation decisions and points to heightened rates of various adversities in the broader population of children reported to CPS …”

“…Early sexual debut, multiple partners and unprotected sexual activity place adolescents at risk of adverse outcomes, including heightened rates of pregnancy and increased rates of STDs . Although the birthrate among adolescents in the United States is at an all‐time low (a finding observed across age and racial and ethnic groups), adolescent pregnancy continues to be a significant public health concern because of its association with poor outcomes for both mothers and children …”

Title IV-E Child Welfare Training and University Partnerships: Transforming State Child Protection Services into a Trauma-Informed System

“…Yet, there is a growing body of research linking the experience of child maltreatment (as indicated by CPS involvement) in later childhood or adolescence to the increased likelihood of involvement as a parent in CPS (Thornberry & Henry, 2013). Most recent data from California indicates at least a 44% increased likelihood that a mother who conceives between the ages of 15-19 will be reported for child maltreatment before her child reaches five years of age (Putnam-Hornstein, Cederbaum, King, Eastman, & Trickett, 2015).…”

Service needs of adolescent parents in child welfare: Is an evidence-based, structured, in-home behavioral parent training protocol effective?

“…The prevalence of this cycle of risk was demonstrated in a recent population-level, longitudinal study of the relationship between adolescent pregnancy, maternal history of maltreatment, and intergenerational abuse and neglect (Putnam-Hornstein, Cederbaum, King, Eastman, & Trickett, 2015). Among 85,084 births to adolescents (aged 15–19) in California during 2006 and 2007, 28% were to a mother who had been maltreated between 10 years of age and her conception date (this figure included both unsubstantiated and substantiated reports).…”

“…The prevalence of abuse and neglect for children of mothers who had previously been maltreated was significantly higher than the rate of abuse and neglect for children of mothers who had not been previously mal-treated. Thus, the mother’s experience of maltreatment was a strong predictor of maltreatment within the next generation (Putnam-Hornstein et al, 2015). To decrease the likelihood of intergenerational cycles of child abuse and neglect and associated risk factors, it is critical for child welfare services to address the needs of adolescent parents in order to prevent recidivism and improve parenting skills among referred adolescent-led families.…”