Type-specific intergenerational transmission of neglectful and physically abusive parenting behaviors among young parents

Using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescents Health (Add Health) data, this study aims to (a) test the hypothesis of intergenerational transmission of child abuse (ITCA) using a nationally representative community sample of young parents and (b) compare transmission patterns between the two most prevalent types of child abuse, physical abuse and neglect. The results show that parents who report having been neglected in their childhood are 2.6 times as likely to report their own neglectful parenting behavior and twice as likely to report physically abusive parenting than those who did not. Likewise, those who recall physical victimization in their childhood are 5 times and 1.4 times as likely to report physically abusive parenting and neglectful parenting, respectively, than those who do not. Findings of this study support the ITCA hypothesis. Contrary to previous studies, results from this study suggest a type-to-type correspondence for transmission of maltreatment to the next generation.