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Linking Childhood Sexual Abuse And Abusive Parenting: The Mediating Role Of Maternal Anger, David Dilillo, George C. Tremblay, Lizette Peterson

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Objective: This study had two primary objectives: First, to examine the association between childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and later parenting characteristics, particularly physical abuse potential, and second, to explore maternal anger as a mediator of the relationship between CSA and adult physical abuse potential.

Method: Utilized a community sample of low SES participants that included 138 mothers classified as having experienced CSA, and a comparison group of 152 non-sexually abused mothers. Parenting variables examined included the mothers' physical abuse potential, nurturance toward their children, unrealistic developmental expectations of children, as well as frequencies of spanking and general punishment. Data was …