Abstract:
This investigation identifies one pathway by which domestic violence increases the potential for child abuse in both mothers and fathers of newborns. Longitudinal data from 181 couples with firstborn infants were used to test a mediational model linking domestic violence and the family's risk of child abuse. Analysis of covariance showed that mothers and fathers who experienced domestic violence during the first year of their child's life developed a significantly more negative view of their child. Hierarchical regressions showed that the direct effect of domestic violence on the family's risk of child abuse was mediated by the mother's negative view of the child and by the father's negative view of the child. Application of findings for intervention and prevention are discussed.
