Intergenerational transmission of child maltreatment among Black families: A scoping review

Exposure to maltreatment, including child abuse and neglect, can be transmitted across generations, perpetuating cycles of trauma. For Black families, the historical and ongoing impacts of slavery and anti-Black racism create a distinct context for understanding the intergenerational transmission of maltreatment. Despite these challenges, there are protective factors within Black communities that may disrupt these cycles. This scoping review addresses a critical gap in the literature by mapping existing research on the intergenerational transmission of child maltreatment among Black families. A model for the intergenerational transmission of maltreatment in Black families is proposed.

This review follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-SCR) guidelines. A search strategy was developed to capture three key concepts: child maltreatment, intergenerational patterns, and Black families. A total of 311 records were identified across three databases: PsycINFO (n = 140), Medline (n = 101), and CINAHL (n = 70). After screening 195 articles based on titles and abstracts, 44 articles underwent full-text review against the inclusion criteria. Ultimately, five studies met the inclusion criteria for analysis.

All five studies focused on Black families in the United States, with no studies meeting the inclusion criteria for Canada. The majority (60 %) were unpublished dissertations and primarily used cross-sectional designs (80 %). Sample sizes ranged from 5 to 398 participants, with a mean of 236, and most samples were characterized by low income (80 %). A range of maltreatment experiences-including physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, as well as neglect-was reported across generations. Identified risk factors for intergenerational maltreatment included a lack of social support, parental mental health challenges, socioeconomic disadvantages, negative childhood relationships, exposure to interpersonal violence, substance abuse, and legal issues. These factors, often compounded by systemic inequities, contribute to the perpetuation of trauma in Black families.

This review highlights the scarcity of research on the intergenerational transmission of maltreatment among Black families. Future research should adopt an anti-racist lens that acknowledges both systemic barriers and the strengths within Black communities. Structural reforms are urgently needed to address racial and socioeconomic inequities that contribute to child maltreatment. Policies should focus on anti-racist child welfare practices, poverty reduction, and enhanced access to resources that strengthen protective factors and disrupt cycles of intergenerational maltreatment.