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Do abused children become abusive parents?

Joan Kaufman¹, Edward Zigler¹

¹Department of Psychology.

The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry

|April 1, 1987

Summary

The widely held belief that child abuse inevitably leads to abusive parenting is not supported by evidence. Research indicates that while a link exists, numerous factors influence whether abuse transmission occurs.

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Area of Science:

Child Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Sociology

Background:

The intergenerational transmission of abuse hypothesis posits that individuals who experienced child abuse are prone to becoming abusive parents.
This belief is prevalent in both public perception and some scientific literature.

Purpose of the Study:

To critically evaluate the scientific literature supporting the hypothesis of child abuse transmission to the next generation.
To identify mediating factors influencing the likelihood of intergenerational abuse.
To estimate the actual rate of abuse transmission.

Main Methods:

Systematic review of existing literature and studies investigating the link between experiencing abuse and perpetrating abuse.
Analysis of mediating variables that may influence the transmission of abusive behaviors.
Integration of findings from multiple investigations to quantify transmission rates.

Main Results:

The unqualified acceptance of the intergenerational transmission of abuse hypothesis is not empirically substantiated.
Several mediating factors significantly impact the likelihood of transmission, suggesting it is not an inevitable outcome.
The estimated true rate of transmission is lower than commonly assumed.

Conclusions:

The simplistic notion that abused children will invariably become abusive parents requires significant qualification.
Understanding mediating factors is crucial for accurate risk assessment and intervention strategies.
Further research should focus on protective factors and resilience in individuals who experienced childhood abuse.

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