Understanding the Intergenerational Cycle of Trauma and Violence: Maternal Adverse Childhood Experiences and Parent-to-Child Aggression Risk

SHIN, Sunny H., Camie A. TOMLINSON, Devin NELSON-HENCE and Gabriela KŠIŇANOVÁ. Understanding the Intergenerational Cycle of Trauma and Violence: Maternal Adverse Childhood Experiences and Parent-to-Child Aggression Risk. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. SAGE Publications, 2023, vol. 38, 5-6, p. 4998-5018. ISSN 0886-2605. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/08862605221120884.

Basic information

• Original name: Understanding the Intergenerational Cycle of Trauma and Violence: Maternal Adverse Childhood Experiences and Parent-to-Child Aggression Risk
• Authors: SHIN, Sunny H. (guarantor), Camie A. TOMLINSON, Devin NELSON-HENCE and Gabriela KŠIŇANOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution).
• Edition: Journal of Interpersonal Violence, SAGE Publications, 2023, 0886-2605.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Article in a journal
• Field of Study: 30210 Clinical neurology
• Country of publisher: United States of America
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• WWW: URL
• Impact factor: Impact factor: 2.500 in 2022
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14310/23:00130136
• Organization unit: Faculty of Science
• Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/08862605221120884
• UT WoS: 000850322800001
• Keywords in English: parental aggression; adverse childhood experiences; parent-to-child aggression; parenting practices; Adult-Adolescent Parenting Inventory
• Tags: rivok
• Tags: International impact, Reviewed

Abstract

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as exposure to maltreatment and household dysfunction, are major risk factors for physical and mental health problems across the lifespan. While the relationship between ACEs and health outcomes is well established, what effects ACEs might have on parent-to-child aggression are less known. The negative consequences of ACEs on parental aggression can be even more pronounced with multiple exposures to different patterns of ACEs. This study examined the association between patterns of maternal ACEs and subsequent parent-child aggression risk. A diverse sample of young women (N = 329; mean age = 26.3 years) was recruited at a large, urban university medical center. Participants completed self-report measures of the ACEs Questionnaire and the Adult-Adolescent Parenting Inventory-2. Latent class analysis was used to identify classes of women with similar patterns of exposure to ACEs and to examine the associations between ACEs classes and parent-to-child aggression risk. Three latent classes, characterized by distinct patterns of maternal ACEs, were identified: Low ACEs (63% of the sample), High Parental Separation/Divorce (20%), and High/Multiple ACEs classes (17%). Women in the High/Multiple ACEs class were more likely to report higher levels of parent-to-child aggression risk (i.e., inappropriate expectations, belief in corporal punishment, lack of empathy) than those in the other classes (Wald(2) = 8.63, p = .013). Preventive interventions targeting parental attitudes and behaviors among young women exposed to ACEs may decrease the risk for further perpetuation of aggression in the next generations.