NCJ Number
216917
Journal
Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 30 Issue: 11 Dated: November 2006 Pages: 1293-1310
Date Published
November 2006
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This study examined whether there was an association between a mother's having been sexually abused as a child and her current risk of physically abusing her children.
Abstract
A mother having been sexually abused as a child was found to be related to her current depression, low self-esteem, and a sense that she was unable to manage her life events and experiences. The presence of these variables increased the mother's risk that she would physically abuse her children. The study concluded that the childhood sexual abuse in itself did not increase the mother's risk for physically abusing her own children, but rather whether or not the woman constructively managed the resulting trauma. Treatment should focus on increasing self-esteem and the development of positive means of coping with lingering trauma from childhood sexual abuse. The study sample was composed of 265 women, the majority of whom were African-Americans with a high school education or GED who had low incomes and lived in urban neighborhoods. The dependent variable, risk of physically abusing their children, was assessed with the Parenting Stress Index. Level of maternal depression was determined with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Locus of control (belief about whether the power to control one's life is within oneself or in external events) was assessed with the Mastery Scale. Other variables measured were family functioning, partner violence, social support, neighborhood characteristics, and family income. 3 figures, 4 tables, and 69 references