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Cited by 42Child Abuse and TraumaChild Welfare and AdoptionIntimate Partner and Family Violence

The reproduction of child maltreatment: An examination of adolescent problem behavior, substance use, and precocious transitions in the link between victimization and perpetration

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Augustyn, Megan Bears, Thornberry, Terence P., Henry, Kimberly L.·2019·Development and Psychopathology
DOI 10.1017/s0954579418001633PMC PMC6467499
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Abstract

Growing evidence suggests that maltreatment is reproduced across generations as victims of maltreatment are at an increased risk for maltreatment perpetration. Unfortunately, little information about mediating pathways exists to provide an explanation for why maltreatment begets maltreatment. We use the number of types of maltreatment experienced to predict later maltreatment perpetration and then examine two developmental pathways that may serve as bridges between maltreatment victimization and perpetration: adolescent problem behaviors and precocious transitions to adulthood. With prospective, longitudinal data from the Rochester Youth Development Study, we assess the relevance of these pathways for the number of maltreatment experiences as well as the number of maltreatment victimization experiences by developmental period (i.e., childhood and adolescence). Our results demonstrate a significant relationship between maltreatment victimization and maltreatment perpetration. Adolescent delinquency and two precocious transitions, dropping out of school and independent living, as well as the accumulation of precocious transitions and problem behaviors, serve as mediators of this intergenerational relationship. Furthermore, the relationship between the number of types of maltreatment and subsequent perpetration is primarily driven by experiences of maltreatment during adolescence. We discuss the implications of these results and set an agenda for the development of programs and policies to interrupt the cycle of maltreatment.

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  • Compromised parenting behaviors and reduced positive parenting behaviors are likely much more common outcomes than maltreatment perpetration, given evidence that the majority of adults maltreated as children do not perpetrate maltreatment with their own children.

    “Compromised parenting behaviors (such as role reversal and rejecting, controlling, permissive, or intrusive behaviors) and reduced positive parenting behaviors (such as decreased use of consistent discipline or limit-setting) are likely much more common outcomes, given evidence that the majority of adults maltreated as children do not perpetrate maltreatment with their own children”

    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 Augustyn et al., 2019

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  • Six prospective studies of ethnically and socioeconomically diverse samples followed longitudinally into adulthood, with childhood maltreatment assessed contemporaneously, provided strong and consistent support for a pattern of intergenerational transmission.

    “Six of the studies included prospective analyses of ethnically and socioeconomically diverse samples of children followed longitudinally into adulthood, with childhood maltreatment assessed contemporaneously”

    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 Augustyn et al., 2019

    The Cycle of Maltreatment section describes several prospective intergenerational studies as compelling evidence of continuity, and Data and Method describes the paper’s own diverse longitudinal sample and use of official maltreatment records. But the paper does not establish that six studies all had the specified sampling, follow-up, and contemporaneous assessment; one study it discusses used retrospective reports of childhood maltreatment. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.87)

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  • Only a small percentage of adults who were abused as children abuse their own children.

    “in fact, only a small percentage of adults who were abused as children abuse their own children (Augustyn et al., 2019; Egeland et al., 1988; Madigan et al., 2019).”

    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 Augustyn et al., 2019

    The Discussion reports that 84% of childhood-limited victims and 66% of adolescent victims did not subsequently engage in maltreating behaviors, supporting the point that most did not become perpetrators. But the corresponding 34% for adolescent victims is not clearly a small percentage, and the study measured substantiated maltreatment of a child, not specifically abuse of participants’ own children (Data and Method, Maltreatment measures). (LLM, conf=0.82)

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  • Across studies, the vast majority of adults abused as children did not abuse their own children, thus breaking the cycle of violence.

    “the vast majority of adults who were abused as children did not abuse their own children, thus breaking the cycle of violence (Augustyn et al., 2019; Kim, 2009; Pears & Capaldi, 2001)”

    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 Augustyn et al., 2019

    The Discussion reports that most maltreatment victims did not subsequently engage in maltreating behaviors: 84% of childhood-limited victims and 66% of adolescent victims through their middle 30s. But these figures come from this study, not a finding established across studies. The Data and Method section also says perpetration was measured against any child and included nonparents, so the paper does not establish that those adults did not abuse their own children. (LLM, conf=0.87)

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  • Another prospective study found evidence of mediation by adolescent problem behaviors and precocious transitions.

    “while the other found evidence of mediation by adolescent problem behaviors, and “precocious transitions” (i.e., school drop-out; independent living) (Augustyn et al., 2019).”

    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 Augustyn et al., 2019

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Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. Brooks-Gunn J, & Chase-Lansdale L (1995). Adolescent parenthood. In Bornstein MH (Ed.), Handbook of parenting: Vol. 3. Status and social conditions of parenting Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
  2. Elder GH Jr. (1985). Perspectives on the life course. In Elder GH Jr. (Ed.), Life course dynamics New York: Cornell University Press.
  3. Institute of Medicine and National Research Council. (2004). Children’s health, the nation’s wealth: Assessing and improving child health Washington, DC: National Academies Press.
  4. Institute of Medicine and National Research Council. (2014). New directions in child abuse and neglect research Washington, DC: National Academies Press. 24757747

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Authors
Augustyn, M. B., Thornberry, T. P., & Henry, K. L.
Affiliations
  • The University of Texas at San Antonio (US)
  • University at Albany, State University of New York (US)
  • Colorado School of Public Health (US)
Corresponding author
Augustyn, Megan Bears
ORCID
Venue
Development and Psychopathology
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Published
2019-02
Volume
31
Issue
1
Pages
53-71
ISSN
  • 0954-5794 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-2198
DOI
10.1017/s0954579418001633
PMC
PMC6467499
OpenAlex
W2913726736
Cited by
42
References
114
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 4
FWCI
4.09
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.cambridge.org/core/terms (unspecified, 12 d)
Locations
  • Development and Psychopathology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5r01da020195-23)
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (R01CE001572)
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA020195))
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
  • Social Sciences › Safety Research › Child Welfare and Adoption
  • Social Sciences › Health › Intimate Partner and Family Violence
Keywords
child abuse, intergenerational transmission, juvenile delinquency, substance use, school dropout, independent living, mediation pathways, Rochester Youth Development Study
MeSH terms
Problem Behavior, Adolescent, Adult, Aggression, Antisocial Personality Disorder, Child, Child Abuse, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Juvenile Delinquency, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Prospective Studies, Risk, Student Dropouts, Child of Impaired Parents, Intergenerational Relations, Crime Victims, Substance-Related Disorders, Young Adult, Independent Living, Bullying

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