Effect of Maternal Victimization on Children: A Cross-Informant Study

• NCJ Number: 200697
• Journal: Family Violence Volume: 18 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2003 Pages: 29-41
• Author(s): Tanya M. Morrel; Howard Dubowitz; Mia A. Kerr; Maureen M. Black
• Date Published: February 2003
• Length: 13 pages
• Grant Number(s): 90CA1401
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: For other documents in this series, see NCJ-200694-96 and NCJ-200698-99.

Annotation

This study examined the impact of maternal victimization on the behavioral, social, emotional, and cognitive development in a group of 206 low-income, predominantly African-American children from inner city, pediatric primary health care clinics, using mother, teacher, and self-report data.

Abstract

The children were 4- to 6-years-old, and they and their parents are part of a larger longitudinal study of child and family development entitled LONGSCAN. The mothers participated in face-to-face interviews when the children were 4 years old, and both mothers and children were interviewed when children were 6 years old. From the 4- to 6-year-old interviews, 91 percent of the children had the same caregiver. School information was obtained from the children's teachers. When children were 4 years old, mothers were asked about their own physical and sexual victimization histories during childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. When the children were 6 years old, child outcomes were collected from mothers, teachers, child self-reports, and standardized testing. The findings showed that mothers with a victimization history reported more externalizing and internalizing behaviors in their children compared with mothers who had not been victimized. Maternal victimization history was not related to teachers' ratings of children's behavior, child reports of social competence and depression, or standardized assessment of cognitive development. The relationship between mothers' history of victimization and their reports of internalizing and externalizing behavior problems in their children was mediated by pathways through maternal depression and disciplinary practices (verbal aggression). These findings provide evidence for the link between maternal victimization and children's behavior problems. Treatment for victimized mothers that reduces their depressive symptoms and promotes adaptive parenting practices may lead to fewer behavior problems in their children. 6 tables, 4 figures, 57 references, and appended maternal victimization measure