Intergenerational transmission of child abuse and neglect: Effects of maltreatment type and depressive symptoms
Critical Summary
This article researches the correlations of rates of mothers who had been abused or neglected, abusing or neglecting their offspring. Similar to Bandura's social learning theory, Yang (2018) is quick to point out that, “children exposed to physical abuse may internalize positive values associated with the use of violence in interpersonal relationships and may lack alternative behavioral models of nonviolent responses to child misbehavior,” with a similar affect after exposure to neglect (p. 366). Exposing children to this maltreatment can cause disruption to the development of the child, resulting in trauma and depression, which could explain mechanisms of intergenerational transmission of child maltreatment (ITCM). After conducting a survey in Illinois with a sample size of mothers who use Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), the correlation found that mothers who experienced physical abuse and/or neglect were more likely than mothers who experienced neither to transmit these maltreatments onto their children (Yang, 2018, pp. 367-368). The study also found that mothers who experienced physical abuse were more likely to physically abuse and/or neglect their children than mothers who only experienced neglect (Yang, 2018, pp. 367-368).
Reflection
Personally, I found this article and study so fascinating. The ACE study shows correlations of higher scores resulting in depression and substance use disorders, but it does not show the depth of results compared to this study. The overall study makes sense especially when Yang put the data into perspective of Bandura’s social learning theory; monkey see, monkey do. It is depressing to know that maltreatment is very intergenerational even though some children will experience it though their parents never have. This research is not fully comprehensive since it only looked at a small sample size and one that did not have a great variety, so I wonder what the results would be if they were to get a larger collective. I also wonder what the results would be for fathers and intergenerational transmission of child maltreatment.
Yang, M.-Y., Font, S. A., Ketchum, M., & Kim, Y. K. (2018). Intergenerational transmission of child abuse and neglect: Effects of maltreatment type and depressive symptoms. Children and youth services review, 91, 364-371. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.06.036