Childhood histories of women imprisoned for fatal child maltreatment

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Abstract

A history of childhood maltreatment is the most consistently reported characteristic of abusive parents. Retrospective research with nine women imprisoned for fatal child abuse revealed childhood histories of maltreatment. Detailed life histories indicated that the meaning of the abuse to the individual had an important impact on later abusive parenting. The types of childhood abuse varied. Childhood abuse was one in a set of factors contributing to abusive parenting. Retrospective studies underline the need for prospective research on long-term outcomes of childhood abuse.

Résumé

Un des traits les plus souvent rapportés chez les parents qui maltraitent leur(s) enfant(s) est le fait qu'ils ont été eux-mêmes victimes de mauvais traitements dans l'enfance. L'auteur s'est livrée à une étude rétrospective auprès de 9 femmes en prison parce qu'elles avaient maltraité leur enfant à mort. 7 fois sur 9 il y avait eu mauvais traitement dans l'enfance. Une anamnèse détaillée a fait ressortir le fait que la signification des mauvais traitements pour la fillette qui en avait été victime a eu une importance décisive sur son comportement maltraitant ultérieur. Les genres de sévices subis étaient variables. En fait ces mauvais traitements n'étaient qu'un des facteurs multiples ayant contribué aux sévices que la fillette devenue adulte a fait subir à son propre enfant plus tard. Ce genre d'étude rétrospective met en évidence le besoin que l'on a d'une recherche prospective sur les effets a long terme de la violence subie dans l'enfance.

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    This research was carried out under the auspices of a National Institute of Mental Health Postdoctoral Research Fellowship. #1 F32 MH07190-01.

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