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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Catherine A. Taylor, PhD, Community Health Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2300, New Orleans, LA 70112, 504-988-0292, cathy.a.taylor@gmail.com and Neil B. Guterman, PhD, School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago, 969 East 60th Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

Purpose: To examine the association between mothers' reports of intimate partner violence (IPV), including both physical and psychological aggression, and their self-reports of maternal child abuse and neglect (CAN). Methods: Data for this study were drawn from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS), a population-based longitudinal birth cohort study of families with young children. The study, which began in 1998, includes data from 20 large U.S. cities. The association between IPV and maternal CAN was examined among a sub-sample of mothers who reported current involvement with an intimate partner (n=2,523). Demographic variables (e.g., age, race, nativity, education, and income) were included in the final multivariate logistic regression models. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and [confidence intervals] are reported. Results: After controlling for maternal perceived stress and other covariates, mothers who reported IPV by their partners more often reported being psychologically aggressive (AOR = 2.1 [1.5–2.9]), physically aggressive (AOR = 1.7 [1.3–2.2]), and/or neglectful (AOR = 1.5 [1.1–2.1]) toward their children. High levels of perceived stress are independently associated with risk for psychological (AOR = 4.0 [2.4-6.6]) and physical aggression (AOR = 2.8 [2.0-3.8]) and neglect (AOR = 6.9 [4.7-10.1]) toward children. Conclusions: Mothers who experienced psychological and/or physical aggression by their intimate partners more frequently reported themselves to be psychologically or physically aggressive or neglectful toward their children. Maternal perceived stress does not mediate the association between experiencing IPV and perpetrating CAN, however a high level of perceived stress was the most robust predictor of maternal CAN.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Articulate the strength of the association between intimate partner violence (IPV) and child abuse and neglect (CAN) within a population-based cohort study representative of non-marital births within large U.S. cities.
• Name at least one other predictor of CAN besides IPV.
• List the demographic covariates associated with CAN within this sample.

Keywords: Domestic Violence, Family Violence

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation