Abstract
The present study examined the extent to which attentional control mediates the relationship between adverse early life experiences
(e.g., harsh discipline, low perceived support) and child physical abuse (CPA) risk in adulthood. Participants included 138
general population parents (30.4% fathers and 69.6% mothers) who completed self-report measures of early life experiences,
attentional control, and CPA risk. Results revealed that attentional control partially mediated the association between adverse
early environment and CPA risk scores, Sobel test = 2.65, SE = 0.86, p = .007. More specifically, individuals exposed to adverse early environments (characterized by harsh discipline and/or low
perceived support) reported lower levels of attentional control, which in turn was associated with increased risk of hostile,
aggressive, and abusive parenting.
(e.g., harsh discipline, low perceived support) and child physical abuse (CPA) risk in adulthood. Participants included 138
general population parents (30.4% fathers and 69.6% mothers) who completed self-report measures of early life experiences,
attentional control, and CPA risk. Results revealed that attentional control partially mediated the association between adverse
early environment and CPA risk scores, Sobel test = 2.65, SE = 0.86, p = .007. More specifically, individuals exposed to adverse early environments (characterized by harsh discipline and/or low
perceived support) reported lower levels of attentional control, which in turn was associated with increased risk of hostile,
aggressive, and abusive parenting.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Article
- Pages 1-7
- DOI 10.1007/s10896-011-9406-0
- Authors
- Julie L. Crouch, Center for the Study of Family Violence and Sexual Assault, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, USA
- Christopher R. Shelton, Center for the Study of Family Violence and Sexual Assault, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, USA
- Joseph R. Bardeen, Center for the Study of Family Violence and Sexual Assault, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, USA
- Regina Hiraoka, Center for the Study of Family Violence and Sexual Assault, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, USA
- Joel S. Milner, Center for the Study of Family Violence and Sexual Assault, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, USA
- John J. Skowronski, Center for the Study of Family Violence and Sexual Assault, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, USA
- Journal Journal of Family Violence
- Online ISSN 1573-2851
- Print ISSN 0885-7482