Finding links to child abuse - Domestic Violence - Oregon State University study - Brief Article

A study by researchers at Oregon State University, Corvallis, suggests that how parents view their offspring is a critical factor in the risk potential for child abuse, and it may be even more important than whether the parents are abusive to each other. The relationship between domestic violence and child abuse is well known. For years, it has been generally accepted that, if couples are engaged in domestic abuse, their kids are more likely to be abused than those whose parents don't hit each other.

Experts differ on the reasons why. Some suggest that it is a learned behavior. If the father hits the mother, she is more likely to hit the children, or the father will extend his abuse to the child as well as his spouse. Others have suggested that the youngsters get blamed for the problems between the parents.

The researchers discovered that negative perceptions of the child not only are important, they take precedence over the parents' relationship with each other. "Our study found that domestic abusers are more likely to have a negative view of their child, and that negativity increases over time," notes William M. McGuigan, a doctoral candidate in the university's Department of Human Development and Family Science. "But factor out the negative views and the risk of child abuse is greatly reduced, even among couples who are abusive to each other. Even if partners don't hit each other, they still have increased risk for child abuse if they have a negative view of their child."

The study looked at 181 low-income families involved with the Oregon Healthy Start program for more than a year. Each parent's view of his or her offspring was assessed when the child was six months old and again at 12 months, utilizing the same measurement procedures used to assess abuse risk factors. The researchers found that parents who felt their kids were difficult or deserved punishment were more likely to abuse their offspring. Other parts of a negative view of the youngster included unrealistic expectations by parents, and a perceived lack of bonding between parent and child.

Such findings suggest that the link between domestic violence and child abuse is not simply a behavioral pattern, McGuigan explains, but a cognitive one. Change the thinking, he argues, and you also change the behavior. "In a way, the results are encouraging because the door is more open for intervention. Basic parent education for at-risk families is one way to start. Let parents know that their baby isn't crying to purposely anger them or to keep them from watching television. He or she is probably hungry, or hot, or wants a new diaper."

Other cognitive techniques could be used to reduce negative perceptions of children and increase positive ones, the researchers say. One of the keys is to work with mothers early, says Sam Vuchinich, associate professor of human development and family sciences. A good time to begin is when expectant mothers are still in the hospital. "If you begin with the fact that most mothers love their babies, you have a starting point for improving their understanding of child development. By offering a free service, and building a relationship, you can establish trust in a program from the beginning." Once a relationship is established with the family, it is easier to offer help through parenting advice, development strategies, role-playing, and guided imagery. It is important to maintain access with parents through home visits.

The study confirmed one previous finding: Those parents who were abused as children were at greater risk for abusing their own offspring. "We can't change the abuses of the past," Vuchinich observes. "But this study clearly demonstrates the critical importance of parents' perceptions of their child. Improving those perceptions may help prevent abuses of the future."

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