Linking childhood sexual abuse and abusive parenting: The mediating role of maternal anger

Objective: This study had two primary objectives: First, to examine the ass ociation between childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and later parenting character istics, particularly physical abuse potential, and second, to explore mater nal 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 1 38 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, unreal istic developmental expectations of children, as well as frequencies of spa nking and general punishment. Data was collected via interview and other se lf-report measures. Results: Even after controlling for mothers' childhood experience of physic al abuse, CSA significantly predicted adult risk of physically abusing one' s own children. Further, maternal anger was confirmed as a mediator of the relationship between having been sexually abused as a child and the potenti al for physically abusing one's own children. Conclusions: CSA may be a risk factor for subsequent physically abusive par enting, while anger appears to play a significant role in mediating this re lationship. Findings are discussed in the context of current knowledge conc erning the impact of child sexual abuse and the processes contributing to a busive parenting. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd.