Do Abused Parents Become Child Abusers?

Most parents with childhood maltreatment histories do not become child abusers. Acknowledging and emotionally processing personal maltreatment experiences can help break family cycles of violence, and therapy is not always required. Telling a trusted friend, spouse, or significant other has been associated with reduced rates of offspring abuse by both the parent and abusive partners. Despite this, parental history of childhood maltreatment is the single strongest risk factor for maltreating one’s children, with prospective research showing substantially increased risk for offspring. Maternal depression, dissociation, and substance abuse further increase the likelihood of offspring maltreatment. Interventions targeting intergenerational risk factors can help end cycles of violence within families.

"The majority of parents with a history of childhood maltreatment do not become child abusers. Given the topics of my presentations and podcasts, it is likely that a substantial percentage of the audience will have a childhood maltreatment history or know someone close to them who does. Many parents who were abused as children worry that they may become abusers themselves. In general, those parents who worry about this possibility are highly unlikely to become child abusers, because one of the best ways to break the family cycle of violence is to acknowledge and deal with this personal history."

"The recognition and emotional processing of such powerful personal experiences do not necessarily require a therapist (although one can be very helpful). One study found, for example, that telling a good friend, spouse, or significant other was associated with demographically high-risk maltreated mothers not having their children abused either by themselves or by abusive partners (Egeland & Susman-Stillman, 1996)."

"Nonetheless, many studies find that a parental history of childhood maltreatment is the single strongest risk factor for child maltreatment of one's offspring. For example, in a well-controlled, prospective study, the children of abused parents had a 6- to 12-fold increased risk of being abused compa"

"Maternal depression, dissociation, and substance abuse further increase risk for offspring maltreatment. Interventions focused on intergenerational risk factors offer opportunities to end family cycles of violence."

Read at Psychology Today