Intergenerational Continuity of Intimate Partner Violence and Attachment Representations in Cameroonian Children:...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Public Health

Background:

• Intimate partner violence (IPV) is linked to insecure attachment and psychological distress, impacting parenting.
• Intergenerational effects of IPV, particularly in non-Western contexts, require further investigation.
• Understanding the transmission of IPV across generations is crucial for family well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the cascading effects of grandmother's IPV experiences on maternal IPV and mental health.
• To investigate the implications for children's attachment security in Cameroon.
• To explore the intergenerational transmission of IPV and its impact on child attachment.

Main Methods:

• Study involved 54 Cameroonian families.
• Data collected via validated questionnaires for grandmothers and mothers.
• Child attachment was assessed using the attachment story completion task.
• Sequential mediation models were employed to analyze the data.

Main Results:

• A significant mediation pathway was found for disorganized attachment.
• Grandmothers' IPV victimization was associated with increased child disorganized attachment.
• This association was mediated by increased maternal IPV victimization and subsequent maternal distress.

Conclusions:

• IPV experiences in grandmothers can negatively impact grandchildren's attachment security through maternal pathways.
• Findings highlight the intergenerational cycle of IPV and its effects on mental health and child attachment in Cameroon.
• Interventions addressing IPV and maternal mental health are essential for improving child and family well-being.