Adolescent Mother Maltreatment Perpetrators’ Past Experiences with Child Protective Services

Abstract

The experience of childhood maltreatment is associated with pregnancy during adolescence and increased risk for maltreating one’s own child or children. However, adolescent mothers who have been identified by child protective services (CPS) both as perpetrators and alleged victims carry a unique burden of trauma and are seldom the focus of retrospective studies. This study examines the extent to which adolescent mother perpetrators have prior experience with CPS as alleged victims and how their current perpetrator characteristics are associated with their prior CPS experience. We constructed a study sample of adolescent mother perpetrators reported to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) by 27 states for federal fiscal years (FFYs) 2016–2018 (N = 8205) and determined whether they had any prior CPS experience as alleged victims since 2005. Characteristics of the participants as both perpetrators and alleged victims were examined, and associations between these were analyzed using odds ratios. Nearly two-thirds (62%) of adolescent mother perpetrators had prior experience with CPS. Analyses revealed significant associations of prior CPS experiences and perpetrator age, race, and connection with additional perpetrators. The types of maltreatment allegations that adolescent mothers experienced as children were significantly associated with the type of maltreatment they perpetrated. Key conclusions highlight the importance in understanding the link between childhood CPS experience and later maltreatment perpetration by adolescent mothers which will in turn help target prevention services to break the cycle of intergenerational maltreatment. Limitations and future research directions are discussed.

Psychopathological and Psychosocial Risk Profile, Styles of Interaction and Mentalization of Adolescent and Young Mother–Infant Dyads

“…Greater neglect is found in mothers under the age of 18 than in mothers between 18-21. Adolescent mothers who have experienced abuse and neglect are also at risk for the perpetuation of such behavior (aggressive, hostile conduct and abuse) with their infants, leading to intergenerational transmission of the trauma from mother to child [26]. From a psychodynamic perspective, it may be hypothesized that adolescents who have had adverse experiences see motherhood as a potential opportunity for redemption and/or reparation of emotional deprivation and interpersonal dysfunction they had in their multiproblematic family [90].…”

“…This may lead to an increase on the part of adolescent mothers in maltreatment of and hostile behavior towards the infant [24], with intergenerational transmission of traumatic experiences from mother to child [25]. The types of maltreatment which adolescent mothers alleged they had experienced during childhood were related to the type of maltreatment they perpetrated [26]. A recent study [26] reported that 62% of adolescent mothers who maltreated their children had prior experience with child protective services.…”

“…The types of maltreatment which adolescent mothers alleged they had experienced during childhood were related to the type of maltreatment they perpetrated [26]. A recent study [26] reported that 62% of adolescent mothers who maltreated their children had prior experience with child protective services.…”