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Childhood Maltreatment and Subsequent Adult Reliance on Physical Child Discipline

delete2026-07-10
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Stephanie J. Brezinski
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Alan R. King *
DOI:10.1007/s10896-026-01145-7delete
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Abstract

Abstract

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Forms of childhood maltreatment (e.g., sexual/physical/emotional abuse and/or exposure to domestic violence) have been identified as risk factors for adult aggressiveness. This study examined links between these stressors and parental disciplinary practices. A crowdsourcing sample (N = 898) of parents described preferred disciplinary responses to brief acts depicted in videotapes by the Analog Parenting Task. The maltreatment-criterion associations were established using bivariate correlation, linear regression, and odds ratio analyses. Maltreatment histories were associated with all of the criterion measures. Association strengths varied by maltreatment source (sexual abuse > physical abuse > parental violence > emotional abuse). Polyvictimization was associated with physical (r = .50, p < .001) and escalatory (r = .28, p < .001) discipline. Fathers relied more heavily on escalatory practices than mothers, but sexual and physical abuse links to disciplinary practices did not differ by parent. Extreme forms of maltreatment were associated with harsh (> 84th percentile) authoritarian style (ORM = 5.5) and physical (ORM = 7.93) or escalatory (ORM = 4.7) discipline. Links between extreme (> 84th percentile) domestic violence exposure and authoritarianism (OR = 8.6), physical discipline (OR = 13.3), and escalatory practices (OR = 11.7) were high. This study extends prior findings regarding childhood maltreatment as a risk factor for adult maladaptive parenting. Polyvictimization links were especially strong. The collective results provide additional support for the intergenerational transmission of aggression.
Keywords:
Adverse Childhood Experiences
Childhood maltreatment
Childhood sexual abuse
Physical abuse
Intimate partner violence
Neglect
Emotional/psychological maltreatment
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Journal of Family Violence cover
Journal of Family Violence
IF:
2.2
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373
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psychology department
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