engleski

Toward an integrated framework for understanding intergenerational transmission of child abuse

A model of intergenerational transmission of abuse is proposed, based on the literature on "cycle of abuse" and traumatic stress. It suggested that the relationship between physical abuse by parents in childhood and potential for child physical abuse in adulthood is moderated by abuse-related variables (frequency, severity, duration, multiple-type abuse, perpetrator/s ), victim characteristics (age, sex), perceived parental acceptance/rejection, general perceived social support and stressful life events and circumstances. The long-term impact is also mediated through cognitive appraisals of physical abuse and/or exposure to inter-parental aggression and coping. Appraisals of harm/threat to own physical and psychological integrity, to parent integrity and to important relationships were identified through factor analysis, as well as clusters of negative emotions regarding the most stressful abuse incidents (fear/helplessness, rejection/loneliness, hate/anger, guilt, disgust). Four major coping strategies were identified: exaggerated adjustment, self-destructive coping, constructive coping and self-blame. The objective of the study was to examine differences between groups of physically abused students with high and low potential for child abuse under the proposed model. Questionnaires were administered to 1146 undergraduate students. A sample of physically abused students was selected according to the criteria of bodily injury (N=221). Other types of abuse (exposure to inter-parental violence and sexual abuse) were controlled for. Discriminant analysis revealed that differentiation of physically abused female students with high and low potential for abuse was most strongly determined by coping by exaggerated adjustment, appraisal of threat/harm to own integrity, parent integrity and perceived rejection by father. Differentiation of physically abused male students with high and low potential for abuse was most strongly determined by duration of abuse and general perceived social support in childhood. Implications for future research and model development are discussed. Suggestions are made for prevention of intergenerational transmission of abuse, including reducing violence in the family, enhancing parental relationship to children and general social support to abused children and psychological integration of traumatic experience.

intergeneral transmission of abuse; risk factors; protective factors

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