Vulnerability or Resilience to Intergenerational Sexual Abuse: The Role of Maternal Factors

Leifer, Myra; Kilbane, Teresa; Kalick, S. Michael

doi:10.1177/1077559503261181

Cited by 49 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…Other researchers have also found that among the strongest predictors of girls' sexual abuse is a history of child sexual abuse in the mother (Faller, 1989;Leifer, Kilbane, & Kalick, 2004;Zuravin, McMillen, Panfilis, & Risly-Curtiss, 1996). Daughters who witness the gender-based subjugation of their mothers may internalize the misogyny that underlies their father's or stepfather's abuse.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

The Intergenerational Transfer of Mother–Daughter Risk for Gender-Based Abuse

McCloskey¹

2013

Psychodynamic Psychiatry

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In this 10-year longitudinal study 150 mother-daughter pairs were recruited to participate in a study examining gender-based abuse across three generations. Forms of gender-based abuse included: child sexual abuse, witnessing intimate partner violence against their mothers, and intimate partner violence or dating violence in adolescence or adulthood. Daughters were interviewed when they were on average 9, 14, and 16 years old. Regression analyses revealed that if the grandmother (G1) was abused by her husband, her daughter (G2) was more likely to be sexually molested in childhood and was also more likely to be in an abusive relationship as an adult. If the mother (G2) was sexually abused as a child her daughter (G3) was at increased risk for child sexual abuse. In turn, child sexual abuse for the daughters related to their reports of dating violence in adolescence. Daughters (G3) who were sexually abused expressed more anxiety about romantic relationships, reflecting early attachment conflicts. Both child sexual abuse and anxious romantic attachment style independently predicted adolescent sexual risk-taking as in having multiple sexual partners or dating older men. These findings demonstrate how informative it is to include multiple forms of gender-based abuse in research and practice to better illuminate complex family dynamics. In addition, the findings support previous empirical work showing the importance of attachment behavior in women who are in abusive relationships, which has unique clinical implications.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

The Intergenerational Transfer of Mother–Daughter Risk for Gender-Based Abuse

McCloskey¹

2013

Psychodynamic Psychiatry

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“…27 When abused women become mothers, they tend to show poor maternal functioning and difficulty to attach to their own children. 24,27 Apparently, maternal attachment constitutes a major determinant of child development outcomes. 27,[29][30][31] A poor attachment quality may have severe consequences for offspring.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mothers who were sexually abused during childhood are more likely to have a child victim of sexual violence

Wearick-Silva

Tractenberg

Levandowski

et al. 2014

Trends Psychiatry Psychother.

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Introduction: Recurrent exposure to childhood sexual abuse (CSA) seems to be higher among victims of sexual abuse. In this sense, experiences related to sexual violence can perpetuate within the family context itself in various ways. Here, we investigate the association between being exposed to CSA and having a child victim of sexual abuse. Method: We used a sample with 123 mothers, who were divided into 2 groups: one consisting of 41 mothers of sexually abused children and another consisting of 82 mothers of non-sexually abused children. History of exposure to CSA was evaluated by means of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire - Short Form (CTQ) and we used a logistic regression model to estimate the prediction values regarding having or not a child exposed to sexual violence. Results: Mothers of sexually abused children had significantly higher scores on CTQ, especially on the sexual abuse subscale (SA). According to our logistic regression model, higher scores on the CTQ significantly predicted the status of being a mother of children exposed to sexual violence in our sample (Wald = 7.074; p = 0.008; Exp(B) = 1.681). Years of formal education reduced the likelihood of having a child victim of sexual violence (Wald = 18.994; p = 0.001; Exp(B) = 0.497). Conclusion: Our findings highlight the importance of a possible intergenerational effect of sexual abuse. Family intervention and prevention against childhood maltreatment should take this issue in account.

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“…O abuso sexual tem sido considerado um problema de saúde pública, com repercussões sociais, emocionais e cognitivas que podem se manifestar no curto e longo prazos (Gonçalves & Ferreira, 2002;Pfeiffer & Salvagni, 2005;Reppold, Pacheco, Bardagi & Hutz, 2002). Alguns estudos têm definido o abuso sexual infantil (ASI) como qualquer toque genital ou comportamento sexual forçado ou imposto, por meio de ameaça ou força física, a uma criança ou adolescente, no qual o perpetrador tenha pelo menos cinco anos a mais do que a vítima (Alexander, Teti & Anderson, 2000;Leifer, Kilbane & Kalick, 2004). Apresenta-se sob forma de práticas eróticas e sexuais impostas à criança ou ao adolescente pela violência física, ameaças ou indução de sua vontade, e pode variar desde atos em que não se produz o contato sexual (voyerismo, exibicionismo, produção de fotos, pornografia) até diferentes tipos de ações que incluem contato sexual sem ou com penetração (Azevedo & Guerra, 1989; SBP/Claves/ ENSP/Fiocruz/SEDH/MJ, 2001).…”

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Revelação do abuso sexual infantil: reações maternas

Santos

Dell’Aglio

2009

Psic.: Teor. e Pesq.

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RESUMO -A literatura tem indicado que mães de crianças vítimas de abuso sexual, ao tomarem conhecimento da situação de abuso de suas filhas, podem apresentar uma variedade de manifestações, que podem incluir ansiedade, depressão e estresse pós-traumático. Além disso, a reação frente à revelação pode ser de apoio e proteção ou, ainda, de evitação, indiferença ou ambivalência. Este estudo teve como objetivo investigar como mães de meninas abusadas sexualmente reagiram quando tomaram conhecimento do abuso. Foram entrevistadas 10 participantes que estavam sendo acolhidas em serviços especializados em situações de violência, em hospital público de Porto Alegre. As reações maternas foram classificadas em positivas e ambivalentes. A maioria das mães acreditou no relato das filhas e denunciou o abuso, embora nem todas tenham sido protetivas no sentido de afastar suas filhas do abusador ou de imediatamente procurar ajuda e realizar denúncia. Os fatores que contribuíram para as reações maternas também são discutidos.Palavras-chave: abuso sexual infantil; reações maternas; revelação. Disclosure of Child Sexual Abuse: Mother's ReactionsABSTRACT -The literature has indicated that mothers of children victims of sexual abuse, when taking knowledge of the abuse situation of their children, can present a variety of manifestations that can include anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Moreover, the reaction facing abuse disclosure can be support and protection or, still, avoidance, indifference or ambivalence. This study aimed at investigating how mothers of sexually abused girls reacted when they had taken knowledge of the abuse. Ten participants who were being sheltered at a specialized service for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in a public hospital of Porto Alegre were interviewed. The mother's reactions were classified in positive and ambivalent. The majority of the mothers believed in the report of their daughters and denounced the abuse, although not all had been protective in the sense of keeping their children safe from the abuser or immediately looking for help and carrying out the denunciation. The factors that contribute to mother's reactions are also discussed.

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Vulnerability or Resilience to Intergenerational Sexual Abuse: The Role of Maternal Factors

Cited by 49 publications

References 55 publications

The Intergenerational Transfer of Mother–Daughter Risk for Gender-Based Abuse

The Intergenerational Transfer of Mother–Daughter Risk for Gender-Based Abuse

Mothers who were sexually abused during childhood are more likely to have a child victim of sexual violence

Revelação do abuso sexual infantil: reações maternas

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