Intergenerational Cycle of Child Maltreatment: Continuity verus Discontinuity

• NCJ Number: 164068
• Journal: Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 11 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1996) Pages: 315-334
• Author(s): S Zuravin; C McMillen; D DePanfilis; C Risley-Curtiss
• Date Published: 1996
• Length: 20 pages
• Grant Number(s): FPR-000028-02-0
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Two hundred and thirteen mothers who had been abused as children were studied to determine the factors that distinguish between parents who perpetuate the intergenerational cycle of child abuse and those who break the cycle.

Abstract

The participants were single parents, recipients of Aid to Families with Dependent Children for at least one natural child age 12 or under, and residents of Baltimore during the sampling month of January 1984. The research examined both the dose hypothesis and the attachment hypothesis. The mothers had experienced, beatings, neglect, or child sexual abuse. Maltreatment continuity and discontinuity was assessed through substantiated reports to a child protective services agency over a 7-year period. Results were consistent with the attachment hypothesis. Poorer quality attachment relationships in childhood increased the probability of transmission of abuse. In contrast, findings were consistent with the dose hypothesis for only one conceptualization of dose. Mothers who had experienced severe forms of child sexual abuse were more likely to have a maltreated child than were other mothers. Tables and 25 references (Author abstract modified)