Does Attentional Control Mediate the Association Between Adverse Early Experiences and Child Physical Abuse Risk?

• NCJ Number: 239748
• Journal: Journal of Family Violence Volume: 27 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2012 Pages: 97-103
• Author(s): Julie L. Crouch; Christopher R. Shelton; Joseph R. Bardeen; Regina Hiraoka; Joel S. Milner; John J. Skowronski
• Date Published: February 2012
• Length: 7 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined if attentional control is related to adult child physical abuse (CPA) risk.

Abstract

The present study examined the extent to which attentional control mediates the relationship between adverse early life experiences (e.g., harsh discipline, low perceived support) and child physical abuse (CPA) risk in adulthood. Participants included 138 general population parents (30.4 percent fathers and 69.6 percent mothers) who completed self-report measures of early life experiences, attentional control, and CPA risk. Results revealed that attentional control partially mediated the association between adverse early environment and CPA risk scores, Sobel test=2.65, SE=0.86, p=.007. More specifically, individuals exposed to adverse early environments (characterized by harsh discipline and/or low perceived support) reported lower levels of attentional control, which in turn was associated with increased risk of hostile, aggressive, and abusive parenting. Abstract published by arrangement with Springer.