RETROSPECTIVE REPORTS OF FAMILY-OF-ORIGIN DIVORCE AND ABUSE AND COLLEGE-STUDENTS PRE-PARENTHOOD COGNITIONS

This study examined the relationship between pre-parenthood cognitions and family-of-origin divorce and aggression. College students from di vorced (N = 46) and intact (N = 66) families were asked to report thei r positive and negative pre-parenthood beliefs. Young adults from divo rced families were found to anticipate more concerns about parenthood than those from intact families. Second, consistent with hypothesis, n umber of parenting concerns differed by reported level of physical vic timization from father level of witnessing father-to-mother violence w as also significantly associated with pre-parenthood concerns, as indi viduals who witnessed severe levels of father-to-mother violence repor ted more concerns about parenthood than did those witnessing mild viol ence, emotional abuse, or no physical or emotional abuse. Victimizatio n from mother and witnessing mother-to-father violence were unrelated to pre-parenthood concerns. None of the family-of-origin experiences w as found to relate to positive reasons for children. These findings su ggest that divorce and physical abuse by father in the family-of-origi n may result in altered negative pre-parenthood cognitions The finding s were discussed in relation to theories about the intergenerational t ransmission of negative family events, as well in relation to gender s ensitive models of family violence.