NCJ Number
145973
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 17 Issue: 6 Dated: (November-December 1993) Pages: 709-714
Date Published
1993
Length
6 pages
Annotation
The association between a mother's past bad experiences and her child's failure to thrive was investigated.
Abstract
The abuse histories of 59 mothers of children referred for nonorganic failure to thrive (NOFFT) were compared to those of 131 mothers of children showing normal growth. Results indicated that the legacy of violence in the mother may impact profoundly upon her parenting and subsequent development of her child. Eighty percent of the NOFFT mothers reported having been victims of abuse at some time in their lives. In contrast, only 34 percent of their counterparts reported such victimization. These mothers tended to be older and to have more traditional family supports than the NOFFT mothers. To successfully treat NOFFT children of abused mothers, caregivers should provide warm support to the mother as well. Otherwise, as often happens, progress made with the NOFFT children may be nullified when the children are returned to their mothers. Further, younger siblings of successfully treated NOFFT children have developed normally, suggesting that support for the mother is a key for prevention, as well as treatment, of NOFFT. 4 tables and 29 references