Cited by 45Child Abuse and TraumaIntimate Partner and Family ViolenceChild Welfare and Adoption

Tests of the mitigating effects of caring and supportive relationships in the study of abusive disciplining over two generations

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Herrenkohl, Todd I., Klika, J. Bart, Brown, Eric C., Herrenkohl, Roy C., Leeb, Rebecca T.·2013·Journal of Adolescent Health

Abstract

PURPOSE: To examine evidence of the continuity in abusive discipline across two generations (G1 and G2) and the role of safe, stable, and nurturing relationships (SSNRs) as protective factors. METHODS: Data are from the Lehigh Longitudinal Study, a prospective investigation of the causes and consequences child maltreatment that began in the 1970s with a sample of 457 children and their parents. Data were most recently collected in 2008-2010 from 80% of the original child sample (N = 357) when they were adults age 36 years on average. Of those assessed as adults, 268 participants (G2s) were parenting children and thus comprise the analysis sample. Analyses examined the association between harsh physical discipline practices by G1 parents and G2's reports of similarly severe discipline practices used in parenting their own children. Analyses also investigated the direct and interactive (protective) effects of SSNR variables that pertain to the care, warmth, and support children received from their mothers, fathers, and siblings over their lifetimes. A measure of an adult partner's warmth and support was also included. A case-level examination of G2 harsh discipliners was included to investigate other forms of past and more recent forms of abuse exposure. RESULTS: Results show a significant predictive association between physical discipline by G1 and G2 parents (β = .30; p < .05; odds ratio, 1.14; confidence interval, 1.04-1.26), after accounting for childhood socioeconomic status and gender. Whereas being harshly disciplined as a child was inversely related to reports of having had a caring relationship with one's mother (r = -.25; p < .01), only care and support from one's father predicted a lower risk of harsh physical discipline by G2s (β = -.24; p < .05; odds ratio, .74; confidence interval, .59-.92). None of the SSNR variables moderated the effect of G1 discipline on G2 discipline. A case-level examination of the abusive histories of G2 harsh discipliners found they had in some instances been exposed to physical and emotional abuse by multiple caregivers and by adult partners. CONCLUSIONS: There is continuity in physical disciplining over two generations. SSNRs measured in this study did not mediate or moderate the effect of G1 on G2 harsh physical discipline, although care and support from fathers was inversely related to the likelihood of G2 harsh physical discipline. This relationship is independent of abuse in childhood. Research is needed to identify factors that interrupt the intergenerational continuity of harsh physical (abusive) disciplining so that promising interventions can be developed and implemented.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2013.04.009

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  • Childhood abuse confers significant risk for intergenerational transmission of abusive parenting, as the majority of maltreating parents reported having been abused in childhood, with rates in most studies at or above 75%.

    “the experience of abuse in childhood confers significant risk for the intergenerational transmission of abusive parenting behaviors, as the majority of maltreating parents reported having been abused in childhood (Coohey & Braun, 1997; Herrenkohl et al., 2013; Pears & Capaldi, 2001), with rates in most studies greater than or equal to 75%”

    From Intergenerational effects of childhood maltreatment: A systematic review of the parenting practices of adult survivors of childhood abuse, neglect, and violence. (2020) · cites this paper as Herrenkohl et al., 2013

    The Discussion reports a robust association between harsh physical discipline across generations, and the Results report that 75% of the G2 harsh discipliners with available data recalled at least one abusive discipline practice by their fathers. That 75% figure concerns this study’s subgroup and one measure of childhood abuse; the paper does not establish that rates in most studies are at or above 75%. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Authors
Herrenkohl, T. I., Klika, J. B., Brown, E. C., Herrenkohl, R. C., & Leeb, R. T.
Affiliations
  • University of Washington (US)
  • Lehigh University (US)
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US)
Corresponding author
Herrenkohl, Todd I.
Venue
Journal of Adolescent Health
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2013-10
Volume
53
Issue
4
Pages
S18-S24
ISSN
1054-139X (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2114926006
Cited by
45
References
51
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 1
FWCI
5.56
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Adolescent Health (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • Centers for Disease Control Prevention (200-2011-F-38936)
  • National Institute on Child Health and Development
  • Office of Behavioral Social Sciences and Research (RO1 HD049767)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
  • Social Sciences › Health › Intimate Partner and Family Violence
  • Social Sciences › Safety Research › Child Welfare and Adoption
Keywords
intergenerational transmission of abuse, parenting practices, father-child relationship, maternal care, protective factors, child abuse, socioeconomic status, emotional abuse, sibling relationships, mediating and moderating effects
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Child, Child Abuse, Child, Preschool, Empathy, Family Relations, Female, Humans, Infant, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Regression Analysis, Sex Factors, Sexual Partners, Social Class, Social Support, Intergenerational Relations, Adult Survivors of Child Abuse

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