History Influence Parenting Of The Next Generation

How Does Child Abuse History Influence Parenting of the Next Generation?

Ehrensaft and colleagues published the above referenced study in the Journal of Psychology of Violence in 2015. The study concentrated on examining how child abuse history influences parenting of the next generation. A lot of studies have already proven a link between childhood abuse and parenting, but have left several gaps such as examining generalized anxiety disorder as mediators of the association of abuse with later parenting or parenting as outcomes of a history of dual abuse. So to test the hypothesizes, that a history of childhood abuse prior to the age of 18 will predict lower mean levels of positive parenting practices and higher mean levels of maladaptive parenting practices, and that conduct disorder at age 15 and adulthood psychopathology at age 22 to mediate the influence of childhood abuse on parenting at age 33, Ehrensaft and colleagues did an in depth experiment where they examined abuse in families through questions and interviews.

The scientists took their standpoint in a study from 1975 where 821 mothers (generation 1, G1) and their children (generation 2, G2) were interviewed on a range of health, behavioral, and environmental factors through follow-ups (waves).

They were assessed in five additional follow-up interviews regarding demographic, psychiatric, and other psychological factors. This study consisted of 396 participants who were parents at Wave 6. G1 and G2 were interviewed separately in the home, and were questioned specifically about their child abuse history and psychological symptoms. The scientist also used other kinds of interviews, scales, and self-reports to obtain their

knowledge
For the first hypothesis, the study found, that a history of childhood sexual abuse predicted lower mean levels of availability, time spent with the child, and higher mean levels of perceived ineffectiveness. Sexual abuse also showed lower mean levels of satisfaction but did not predict possessiveness or discipline. Furthermore, a history of childhood physical abuse predicted higher mean levels of perceived ineffectiveness, but did not predict satisfaction, possessiveness, availability, discipline, or time spent with the child. A history of childhood dual abuse predicted lower mean levels of availability, and discipline, but did not predict satisfaction, possessiveness, time spent with the child, or perceived ineffectiveness. For hypothesis two, the study found that for all the three types of abuses, participants were more likely to be diagnosed with a conduct disorder (CD), and participants with a history of childhood sexual abuse were more likely to be diagnosed with major depressive disorder and with generalized anxiety disorder. Furthermore, it showed lower mean levels of time spent with the child, higher mean levels of disciplines, and slightly predicted higher mean levels of perceived ineffectiveness.
All three types of abuse seems to lead to emotional distance, and maybe this is why a lot of children and young adults finds comfort in peers and teachers who emphasize empathy and caretaking behaviors now a days. Although the study was designed to measure long-term outcomes of childhood abuse, it is important to understand that not all parents with a history of child abuse will experience parenting difficulties. Some people break the chains and create a secure emotional environment with their children before emotional or behavioral difficulties emerge. It is also important to remember that time has changed and that we are not as strict and disciplined as parents were in 1975. We are more open and free when it comes to parenting and we want to capture every moment through a camera because we want to be able to remember every moment and seconds spent with our children. Therefore, further research could focus on examining how such outcomes may occur, develop, and change with maturation. Last, but not least, the study did a good deriving bias-corrected intervals by using the bootstrapping script but again, when using interviews it is hard to make sure that the participants are not lying and that the placebo-effect is absent.