Parental functioning and preschool outcomes: a multivariate analysis of a maltreating and a control group

Abstract

Abusive parenting is no longer accepted as an inevitable risk precursor for the next generation of parents. Rather, one can examine the relationship of abuse risk to developmental outcomes and how that path is drawn. An ecological theoretical framework provides the basis for the present study. Low income maltreating mothers ( N=18) and their preschool children were measured, along with a control group of dyads ( N=19). The sample was predominantly white with 17 male children and 20 female children examined. Mothers reported their own childhood histories and current parenting, and their children's competence. The children reported their cognitive, social and physical competence, as well as maternal acceptance. No differences in the mothers’ history of violence in family of origin scores were found by group. However, the mothers’ retrospective views of their fathers’ rejection of them and group status predicted the children's cognitive competence and maternal acceptance scores when regression analyses were conducted. While preschoolers’ reports are questionable, future ecological study that queries two generations of parents is supported. These findings give credence to the study of maltreatment as a continuum of risk factors and outcomes for children. Further, a negative relationship between fathers and daughters may prove to be an important risk factor for child maltreatment research, and eventually provide casework specialists another avenue of intervention.