Citation

Milner JS, Robertson KR, Rogers DL. J. Fam. Violence 1990; 5(1): 15-34.

Affiliation

Family Violence Research Program, Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, 60115-2892 DeKalb, Illinois; University of North Carolina School of Medicine, 27514 Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Gilliam Psychiatric Center, 29210 Columbia, South Ca

Copyright

(Copyright © 1990, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/BF00979136

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The experience of aversive interactions within the family of origin is believed to increase the probability of parental physical child abuse. To test this hypothesis, 375 subjects were given a Childhood History Questionnaire (CHQ) and the Child Abuse Potential (CAP) Inventory. The CHQ contained a series of questions about the presence and frequency of various abusive behaviors and associated sequelae that were received and/or observed before and/or after puberty. The CAP Inventory was used to measure adult physical child abuse potential. As expected, a childhood history of physical abuse was significantly related to adult physical child abuse potential; and, as chronicity increased, so did abuse potential. The experience of physical abuse prior to puberty produced higher abuse scores than the experience of physical abuse after puberty. The study provides preliminary data indicating the childhood experience of a caring adult and / or caring friend moderates adult child abuse potential.