NCJ Number
153319
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 19 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1995) Pages: 33-49
Date Published
1995
Length
17 pages
Annotation
A revised version of the three-factor theory of child abuse is presented, and research designed to test hypotheses derived from this theory is reported.
Abstract
Three main hypotheses derived from the three factors: (1) that psychologically abusive mothers have a high level of hostile feelings; (2) that the high level of hostile feelings in abusive mothers is associated with low marital coping skills (affectionless, violent marriages), a negative childhood upbringing (punitive, uncaring, and overcontrolling), a high level of objective stress, and a high strain level (low self- esteem, depression, neurotic symptoms, social anxiety, and feelings of being wronged); and (3) that maternal psychological child abuse is associated with low marital coping skills, a negative childhood upbringing, a high stress level, and a high strain level. The research study compared 44 psychologically abusing mothers with 128 nonabusing mothers in the Netherlands who were matched for age and educational level. All mothers had children who were hospitalized for medical symptoms. The three hypotheses were supported, except for the component of the second hypothesis concerning the association between objective stress and maternal hostility. Compared to nonabusive mothers, abusive mothers had more hostility, less self-esteem, lower intelligence, greater social anxiety, greater feelings of being wronged, more neurotic and depressive symptoms, more illness, and less involvement in social activities. Abusive mothers recalled having less caring mothers during their childhood and more affectionless, overcontrolling fathers. Abusive mothers also reported having partner relationships that were less mutually affectionate and more verbally and physically aggressive. 62 references, 2 tables, and 4 figures