Adolescent Experiences Associated with Child Abuse Potential: A Closer Look at Physical Abuse, Witnessing Domestic Violence and Perceived Parental Bond

Sara Asher, Pace University

Abstract

The relationship between adolescent physical abuse, witnessing domestic violence, perceived parental bond and the potential to abuse was investigated in a longitudinal study of victims of adolescent physical abuse and their non-abused peers. The sample consisted of 67 young adults who were abused as adolescents and 78 young adults who were not. Adolescent physical abuse was determined by substantiated cases of physical abuse during the ages 12–18 after investigation by the Nassau and Suffolk County Child Protective Services. At Time I, all participants were administered the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI; Parker, Tupling, & Brown, 1979) to assess perceived maternal and paternal parenting. In addition, all participants were administered the Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS; Straus, 1979b) to obtain history of witnessing domestic violence. Among the overall sample, 33 participants, 29 in the abuse group and 4 in the non-abuse group, had witnessed domestic violence. At Time II, all participants were administered the Child Abuse Potential Inventory (CAPI; Milner, 1979) to assess the potential to physically abuse one's children. The results indicated that adolescent physical abuse significantly predicted the potential to abuse. Perceived low care from both parents combined predicted the potential to abuse. Perceived parenting from either the father or the mother had no relationship with the potential to abuse. Witnessing domestic violence had no relationship with the potential to abuse. There was no cumulative effect of abuse types (adolescent physical abuse and witnessing domestic violence) on the potential to abuse.

Subject Area

Counseling Psychology|Clinical psychology

Recommended Citation

Asher, Sara, "Adolescent Experiences Associated with Child Abuse Potential: A Closer Look at Physical Abuse, Witnessing Domestic Violence and Perceived Parental Bond" (2010). ETD Collection for Pace University. AAI3435587.
https://digitalcommons.pace.edu/dissertations/AAI3435587

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