Transmitting trauma: a systematic review of the risk of child abuse perpetrated by parents exposed to traumatic events

TY - JOUR

T1 - Transmitting trauma

T2 - a systematic review of the risk of child abuse perpetrated by parents exposed to traumatic events

AU - de Montgomery, Edith Elise

AU - Just-Østergaard, Emilie

AU - Jervelund, Signe Smith

PY - 2019/3/1

Y1 - 2019/3/1

N2 - Objectives: To review the empirical evidence of a potential association between parental trauma and parental child abuse. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, 4645 publications were identified through a systematic search in PubMed, PsycINFO and Cochrane. The final number of publications included was 15. Results: The prevalence of child abuse was found to be consistently higher in populations exposed to traumatic events (prevalence range 36.0–97.5%) compared with non-exposed groups. Parents exposed to trauma were more likely to abuse their children in all studies, and trauma severity, including a PTSD diagnosis in parents, was associated with perpetration of child abuse in most studies. Such associations appeared to be independent of the type of traumatic event. The findings underscore that trauma does not only affect the individual, but also the family. Conclusions: Parental trauma seems to be associated with perpetration of child abuse within the family. Abusive behavior against children could be a potential trauma reaction, which should be considered in preventive strategies aimed at reducing harm in traumatized families.

AB - Objectives: To review the empirical evidence of a potential association between parental trauma and parental child abuse. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, 4645 publications were identified through a systematic search in PubMed, PsycINFO and Cochrane. The final number of publications included was 15. Results: The prevalence of child abuse was found to be consistently higher in populations exposed to traumatic events (prevalence range 36.0–97.5%) compared with non-exposed groups. Parents exposed to trauma were more likely to abuse their children in all studies, and trauma severity, including a PTSD diagnosis in parents, was associated with perpetration of child abuse in most studies. Such associations appeared to be independent of the type of traumatic event. The findings underscore that trauma does not only affect the individual, but also the family. Conclusions: Parental trauma seems to be associated with perpetration of child abuse within the family. Abusive behavior against children could be a potential trauma reaction, which should be considered in preventive strategies aimed at reducing harm in traumatized families.

KW - Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

KW - child abuse

KW - parental trauma

KW - trauma

KW - PTSD symptoms

KW - Refugee

KW - Maltreatment

KW - trauma reaction

KW - family violence

KW - Intergenerational transmission

KW - Domestic violence

KW - børnemishandling

KW - vold

KW - violence

U2 - 10.1007/s00038-018-1185-4

DO - 10.1007/s00038-018-1185-4

M3 - Review

C2 - 30506365

SN - 1661-8556

VL - 64

SP - 241

EP - 251

JO - International Journal of Public Health (Print Edition)

JF - International Journal of Public Health (Print Edition)

IS - 2

ER -