You are here

Mothers' History of Child Maltreatment and Regulation Abilities: Interactions Among Young Children's Temperament, Attachment, and Maltreatment Potential

Download pdf | Full Screen View

Date Issued:
2016
Abstract/Description:
Given the impact that parents' and young children's characteristics have on the potential for child maltreatment, the present study sought to examine how mothers' ratings of their own childhood maltreatment, their psychological symptoms, their regulation abilities (i.e., emotion regulation, reflective functioning, attributions, and coping with young children's negative emotions), and their perceptions of their young children's temperament were related to their narratives of their attachment relationships with their young children and their child maltreatment potential. As part of this study, 54 mothers rated themselves and their young children on the aforementioned variables. Binary logistic hierarchical regression analysis suggested that mothers' higher levels of nonsupportive coping styles were associated significantly with an increased likelihood of an unbalanced (insecure) narrative of attachment with their young children. Hierarchical and moderation regression analyses suggested the importance of examining mothers' ratings of their own childhood maltreatment, psychological symptoms, nonsupportive coping styles, and mothers' perceptions of their young children's temperament in predicting mothers' child maltreatment potential. In addition, mediation analyses suggested that both mothers' emotion regulation and reflective functioning were important in predicting coping styles. Finally, exploratory analyses suggested that mothers' emotion regulation and psychological symptoms were important predictors of mothers' child maltreatment potential. Overall, these findings suggested that both mothers' characteristics and their ratings of their young children's temperament played a significant role in the prediction of their narratives of their attachment relationships with their young children and mothers' child maltreatment potential. These findings will be particularly helpful for professionals who work with high risk families, particularly those who are at risk for child maltreatment.
Title: Mothers' History of Child Maltreatment and Regulation Abilities: Interactions Among Young Children's Temperament, Attachment, and Maltreatment Potential.
37 views
20 downloads
Name(s): Puff, Jayme, Author
Renk, Kimberly, Committee Chair
Paulson, Daniel, Committee Member
Sims, Valerie, Committee Member
Boris, Neil, Committee Member
University of Central Florida, Degree Grantor
Type of Resource: text
Date Issued: 2016
Publisher: University of Central Florida
Language(s): English
Abstract/Description: Given the impact that parents' and young children's characteristics have on the potential for child maltreatment, the present study sought to examine how mothers' ratings of their own childhood maltreatment, their psychological symptoms, their regulation abilities (i.e., emotion regulation, reflective functioning, attributions, and coping with young children's negative emotions), and their perceptions of their young children's temperament were related to their narratives of their attachment relationships with their young children and their child maltreatment potential. As part of this study, 54 mothers rated themselves and their young children on the aforementioned variables. Binary logistic hierarchical regression analysis suggested that mothers' higher levels of nonsupportive coping styles were associated significantly with an increased likelihood of an unbalanced (insecure) narrative of attachment with their young children. Hierarchical and moderation regression analyses suggested the importance of examining mothers' ratings of their own childhood maltreatment, psychological symptoms, nonsupportive coping styles, and mothers' perceptions of their young children's temperament in predicting mothers' child maltreatment potential. In addition, mediation analyses suggested that both mothers' emotion regulation and reflective functioning were important in predicting coping styles. Finally, exploratory analyses suggested that mothers' emotion regulation and psychological symptoms were important predictors of mothers' child maltreatment potential. Overall, these findings suggested that both mothers' characteristics and their ratings of their young children's temperament played a significant role in the prediction of their narratives of their attachment relationships with their young children and mothers' child maltreatment potential. These findings will be particularly helpful for professionals who work with high risk families, particularly those who are at risk for child maltreatment.
Identifier: CFE0006379 (IID), ucf:51497 (fedora)
Note(s): 2016-08-01
Ph.D.
Sciences, Psychology
Doctoral
This record was generated from author submitted information.
Subject(s): Child Maltreatment -- Emotion Regulation -- Maltreatment Potential -- Young Children's Temperament
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006379
Restrictions on Access: campus 2017-08-15
Host Institution: UCF

In Collections