NCJ Number
136530
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 16 Issue: 2 Dated: (1992) Pages: 239-249
Date Published
1992
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This study examined the impact of childhood incest victimization on the self-reported parenting experience and practices of adult women survivors. Data were collected from three samples of women who were in or had graduated from college and were the mothers of children between the ages of 2 and 14; 20 women had fathers who were incestuous and alcoholic, 25 had fathers who were alcoholic only, and 39 had fathers who presented no known problem.
Abstract
The findings showed that incest survivors reported significantly less confidence and sense of control as parents than mothers from the nonrisk group. In addition, they find less support in the parental relationship with their spouses, are less consistent and organized, and make fewer maturity demands on their children. The incest survivors' feelings of being overwhelmed could interfere with their ability to develop autonomy in their children. The study also found that incest survivors felt their families of origin were less cohesive than did adult children of alcoholic fathers. However, the authors note that incest and its attendant problems in a dysfunctional family were more predictive of problems in the parental relationship than actual problems in the mother's parenting skills. It did appear that a solid marital relationship could mediate the negative long-term effects of incest on a mother's own parenting. 5 tables and 22 references (Author abstract modified)