Abstract
In the interest of improving child maltreatment prevention science, this longitudinal, community based study of 499 mothers
and their infants tested the hypothesis that mothers’ childhood history of maltreatment would predict maternal substance use
problems, which in turn would predict offspring victimization. Mothers (35% White/non-Latina, 34% Black/non-Latina, 23% Latina,
7% other) were recruited and interviewed during pregnancy, and child protective services records were reviewed for the presence
of the participants’ target infants between birth and age 26 months. Mediating pathways were examined through structural equation
modeling and tested using the products of the coefficients approach. The mediated pathway from maternal history of sexual
abuse to substance use problems to offspring victimization was significant (standardized mediated path [ab] = .07, 95% CI [.02, .14]; effect size = .26), as was the mediated pathway from maternal history of physical abuse to substance
use problems to offspring victimization (standardized mediated path [ab] = .05, 95% CI [.01, .11]; effect size = .19). There was no significant mediated pathway from maternal history of neglect.
Findings are discussed in terms of specific implications for child maltreatment prevention, including the importance of assessment
and early intervention for maternal history of maltreatment and substance use problems, targeting women with maltreatment
histories for substance use services, and integrating child welfare and parenting programs with substance use treatment.
and their infants tested the hypothesis that mothers’ childhood history of maltreatment would predict maternal substance use
problems, which in turn would predict offspring victimization. Mothers (35% White/non-Latina, 34% Black/non-Latina, 23% Latina,
7% other) were recruited and interviewed during pregnancy, and child protective services records were reviewed for the presence
of the participants’ target infants between birth and age 26 months. Mediating pathways were examined through structural equation
modeling and tested using the products of the coefficients approach. The mediated pathway from maternal history of sexual
abuse to substance use problems to offspring victimization was significant (standardized mediated path [ab] = .07, 95% CI [.02, .14]; effect size = .26), as was the mediated pathway from maternal history of physical abuse to substance
use problems to offspring victimization (standardized mediated path [ab] = .05, 95% CI [.01, .11]; effect size = .19). There was no significant mediated pathway from maternal history of neglect.
Findings are discussed in terms of specific implications for child maltreatment prevention, including the importance of assessment
and early intervention for maternal history of maltreatment and substance use problems, targeting women with maltreatment
histories for substance use services, and integrating child welfare and parenting programs with substance use treatment.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s11121-010-0193-2
- Authors
- Karen Appleyard, Center for Child and Family Health, Duke University, 411 W. Chapel Hill St., Suite 908, Durham, NC 27701, USA
- Lisa J. Berlin, Center for Child and Family Policy, Duke University, Box 90545, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- Katherine D. Rosanbalm, Center for Child and Family Policy, Duke University, Box 90545, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- Kenneth A. Dodge, Center for Child and Family Policy, Duke University, Box 90545, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- Journal Prevention Science
- Online ISSN 1573-6695
- Print ISSN 1389-4986