The cycle of violence: Childhood abuse history, domestic violence and child maltreatment among Japanese mothers

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to illustrate the impact of childhood abuse history (CAH), experience of domestic violence (DV), and mental health problems on each type of child maltreatment (physical and psychological abuse and neglect) among mothers in Japan. A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted among a sample of mothers (N= 304) and their children (N= 498) staying in 83 MotherChild Homes in Japan to assess the mothers' CAH, DV experiences, and current mental health problems, along with their maltreatment behaviors toward their children before moving into Mother-Child Homes. Regarding the mothers' child maltreatment before moving into Mother-Child Homes, CAH, DV, and mental health problems were significantly and independently associated with child physical and psychological abuse. Childhood physical/psychological abuse was also associated with child physical/psychological abuse, but that was not true for neglect. The present study thus confirmed intergenerational continuity of child physical and psychological abuse in Japan.