Gender-specific linkages of parents’ childhood physical abuse and neglect with children’s problem behaviour: evidence from Japan
Abstract Background Childhood abuse has far-reaching effects, not only for survivors of maltreatment but also for subsequent generations. However, the mechanism of such intergenerational linkages has not been fully explored. This study investigated this linkage with special reference to its gender-s...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2016-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-016-3072-3 |
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| author | Takashi Oshio Maki Umeda |
| author_facet | Takashi Oshio Maki Umeda |
| author_sort | Takashi Oshio |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Childhood abuse has far-reaching effects, not only for survivors of maltreatment but also for subsequent generations. However, the mechanism of such intergenerational linkages has not been fully explored. This study investigated this linkage with special reference to its gender-specific features. Methods A dataset of parents and their children, obtained from a cross-sectional survey in the Tokyo metropolitan area of Japan, was used. The study sample consisted of 1750 children aged between 2 and 18 years (865 daughters and 885 sons) and their parents (1003 mothers and fathers). Regression models were estimated to assess the associations among 1) both parents’ childhood physical abuse and neglect (childhood abuse), 2) parents’ psychological distress, as measured by the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6), and 3) children’s problem behaviour, as measured by the clinical scales of the Child Behavior Checklist. Results Daughters’ problem behaviour was more closely associated with mothers’ than fathers’ childhood abuse, whereas sons’ problem behaviour was more closely associated with their fathers’ experience. The impact of mothers’ childhood abuse on daughters’ problem behaviour was mediated at a rate of around 40 % by both parents’ psychological distress. The proportion of the effect mediated by parents’ psychological distress was less than 20 % for the impact of fathers’ childhood abuse on sons’ problem behaviour. Conclusion The intergenerational impact of parental childhood abuse on children’s problem behaviour is gender specific, i.e. largely characterized by the same gender linkages. Further studies that explore the mechanisms involved in the intergenerational impact of childhood abuse are needed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T02:08:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f609dc96043f406284bad8d01fb75125 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T02:08:10Z |
| publishDate | 2016-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-f609dc96043f406284bad8d01fb751252022-12-21T22:07:39ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582016-05-011611810.1186/s12889-016-3072-3Gender-specific linkages of parents’ childhood physical abuse and neglect with children’s problem behaviour: evidence from JapanTakashi Oshio0Maki Umeda1Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi UniversityGraduate School of Nursing Science, St. Luke’s International UniversityAbstract Background Childhood abuse has far-reaching effects, not only for survivors of maltreatment but also for subsequent generations. However, the mechanism of such intergenerational linkages has not been fully explored. This study investigated this linkage with special reference to its gender-specific features. Methods A dataset of parents and their children, obtained from a cross-sectional survey in the Tokyo metropolitan area of Japan, was used. The study sample consisted of 1750 children aged between 2 and 18 years (865 daughters and 885 sons) and their parents (1003 mothers and fathers). Regression models were estimated to assess the associations among 1) both parents’ childhood physical abuse and neglect (childhood abuse), 2) parents’ psychological distress, as measured by the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6), and 3) children’s problem behaviour, as measured by the clinical scales of the Child Behavior Checklist. Results Daughters’ problem behaviour was more closely associated with mothers’ than fathers’ childhood abuse, whereas sons’ problem behaviour was more closely associated with their fathers’ experience. The impact of mothers’ childhood abuse on daughters’ problem behaviour was mediated at a rate of around 40 % by both parents’ psychological distress. The proportion of the effect mediated by parents’ psychological distress was less than 20 % for the impact of fathers’ childhood abuse on sons’ problem behaviour. Conclusion The intergenerational impact of parental childhood abuse on children’s problem behaviour is gender specific, i.e. largely characterized by the same gender linkages. Further studies that explore the mechanisms involved in the intergenerational impact of childhood abuse are needed.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-016-3072-3Childhood abuseProblem behaviourPsychological distress |
| spellingShingle | Takashi Oshio Maki Umeda Gender-specific linkages of parents’ childhood physical abuse and neglect with children’s problem behaviour: evidence from Japan BMC Public Health Childhood abuse Problem behaviour Psychological distress |
| title | Gender-specific linkages of parents’ childhood physical abuse and neglect with children’s problem behaviour: evidence from Japan |
| title_full | Gender-specific linkages of parents’ childhood physical abuse and neglect with children’s problem behaviour: evidence from Japan |
| title_fullStr | Gender-specific linkages of parents’ childhood physical abuse and neglect with children’s problem behaviour: evidence from Japan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gender-specific linkages of parents’ childhood physical abuse and neglect with children’s problem behaviour: evidence from Japan |
| title_short | Gender-specific linkages of parents’ childhood physical abuse and neglect with children’s problem behaviour: evidence from Japan |
| title_sort | gender specific linkages of parents childhood physical abuse and neglect with children s problem behaviour evidence from japan |
| topic | Childhood abuse Problem behaviour Psychological distress |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-016-3072-3 |
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