The Intergenerational Cycle of Child Maltreatment

Abstract

Few studies have focused on identifying characteristics that discriminate between parents who break versus those who perpetuate intergenerational cycles of child maltreatment. Both the dose and the attachment hypotheses were examined in this study of 213 mothers maltreated as children in one of three ways (beatings, neglect, or sexual abuse). Maltreatment continuity versus discontinuity was assessed through substantiated reports to a Child Protective Services (CPS) agency over a 7-year period. Findings were consistent with the attachment hypothesis. Poorer quality attachment relationships in childhood increased the probability of transmission. Findings were consistent with the dose hypothesis for only one conceptualization of dose. Those mothers who had experienced severe forms of sexual abuse (experienced coitus vs. did not) were more likely to have a maltreated child. These findings are discussed in terms of current theory and research on intergenerational maltreatment.

Family Structure and Parental Involvement in the Intergenerational Parallelism of School Adversity

“…Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/page/termsand-conditions T ings, and attitudes of parents are frequently the most important (but not the only important) influences on the subsequent experiences, behaviors, understandings, and attitudes of their children seems to be widely accepted among researchers in education and the social sciences, as well as among the general public. Such intergenerational continuity has been observed in a number of studies in which a wide variety of behaviors, attitudes, and experiences of parents and their children have been compared with everything from occupational resemblance (Biblarz, Raftery, & Bucur, 1997) to parental bonding style (Miller, Kramer, Warner, Wickramaratne, 1997) and including, but not limited to, substance abuse (Sheridan, 1995); attitudes toward consumption of specific foods (Stafleu, Van Staveren, De Graaf, Burema, 1995); child maltreatment (Zuravin, McMillen, DePanfilis, & Risley-Curtiss, 1996); eating disorders (Steiger, Stotland, Trottier, & Ghadirian, 1996); running away (Plass & Hotaling, 1995); alcoholism (Johnson & Bennett, 1995); parenting of siblings (Kramer & Baron, 1995); aggression (Doumas, Margolin, & John, 1994); antisocial behavior (Tapscott, Frick, Wootton, & Kruh, 1996); harsh parenting techniques (Simons, Whit-…”

Rereporting of child maltreatment: Does participation in other public sector services moderate the likelihood of a second maltreatment report?

“…Family level risk factors associated with recurrence include caregiver involvement with drugs or having mental health disorders Fuller, Wells, & Cotton, 2001;Gaudin, 1993), past history of maltreatment for the parent, particularly if the maltreatment was severe or chronic Kaufman & Zigler, 1987;Oliver, 1993;Zuravin, McMillen, DePanfilis, & Risley-Curtiss, 1996), and other family stressors like domestic violence, teen parenthood, or social isolation (Cash, 2001;Zuravin & DiBlasio, 1992). While some research suggests that children with special needs (e.g., cognitive, medical or mental health conditions) have higher risk of maltreatment (Burrell, Thompson, & Sexton, 1994;Sullivan & Knutson, 2000;Zuravin, Orme, & Hegar, 1994), it is not known if these special needs are also associated with recurrent maltreatment.…”

Predicting disturbed parental awareness in mothers with a newborn infant: test of a theoretical model

“…Attachment theorists (e.g. Crittenden, 1988;Zuravin et al, 1996) referred to the early effects of maltreating maternal behaviour on infants and to the protective effects attachment to maltreating parents can have. The modified model supports the intergenerational transmission perspective, showing that childhood experiences of maltreatment and adverse parenting have direct as well as indirect effects on a key dimension of parenting during the transition to motherhood.…”