Safe, Stable, Nurturing Relationships as a Moderator of Intergenerational Continuity of Child Maltreatment: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Purpose The present paper summarizes findings of the special issue papers on the intergenerational continuity of child maltreatment and explores the potential moderating effects of safe, stable, nurturing relationships (SSNRs) through meta-analysis. Methods Studies were selected for inclusion in this meta-analysis if they (1) were published in peer-reviewed journals, (2) tested for intergenerational continuity in any form of child maltreatment using prospective, longitudinal data, and (3) tested for moderating effects of any variable of SSNRs on intergenerational continuity of child maltreatment. The search revealed only one additional study beyond the four reports written for this special issue that met inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. Results Estimates of intergenerational stability of child maltreatment from the studies included in this special issue are consistent with several other studies which find that child maltreatment in one generation is positively related to child maltreatment in the next generation. Furthermore, meta-analytic results from the five studies that met the inclusion criteria suggest a protective, moderating effect of SSNRs on intergenerational continuity of child maltreatment. The calculated fail-safe index indicated that 49 unpublished intergenerational studies with an average null effect would be required to render non-significant the overall moderation effect of SSNRs on child maltreatment. Conclusions This special issue expanded the examination of SSNRs beyond the caregiver-child dyad. That is, these studies considered SSNRs in adult relationships as well as parent-child relationships. Results suggest that certain types of SSNRs between parents and other adults (e.g., romantic partner, co-parent, or adult social support resource) may decrease maltreatment continuity. Implications and Contributions Findings of this special issue and meta-analysis suggest that focusing on enhancing (1) relationship climate and (2) positive, supportive relationships not only between parents and children, but also between parents and other adults, may be a key prevention strategy for interrupting the cycle of child maltreatment.

Intergenerational Transmission of Stress in Humans

“…Supportive and trusting relationships with intimate partners, high levels of maternal warmth toward children, and low levels of IPV break the cycle of abuse, where children of women who were maltreated during childhood were themselves protected from maltreatment (Jaffee et al, 2013). A recent meta-analysis indicates that safe, stable, nurturing relationships buffer intergenerational continuity of child maltreatment (Schofield et al, 2013). However, it is not clear whether these mitigating factors 'erase' or otherwise prevent the biological signatures in offspring of parent stress, eg, changes to HPA axis activity.…”

Disorganized attachment in infancy: a review of the phenomenon and its implications for clinicians and policy-makers

“…This connection has been firmly established in empirical research at the group level (see meta-analysis by Schofield, Lee, & Merrick, 2013). Yet, research is clear that not every parent who was abused as a child will abuse his or her own child.…”

Intergenerational Transmission of Perceived Bonding Styles and Paternal Emotion Socialization: Mediation Through Paternal Emotion Dysregulation

“…Since then, information from several sources concurs with Belsky leading to the hypothesis that parents would rear their child in the way they were reared (e.g., Belsky et al 2005;O'Brien 2010;Pears and Capaldi 2001;Simonset al 1991). Among research focusing on the intergenerational (dis-) continuities of parenting, whether and how parents who experienced abusive parenting would abuse their children is one of the most discussed topics (Lundberg et al 2000;Schofield et al 2013). For example, Simons et al (1991) proposed that hostile personality and beliefs about physical discipline might explain the intergenerational transmission of harsh parenting.…”