Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Parents’ Marital Status and Child Physical Abuse Potential: The Mediation of Depression Symptoms

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Child and Family Studies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Informed by a social interactional framework of stress and parenting, the aim of this study was to examine the mediating effect of depression symptoms on the association between parents’ marital status (married and divorced parents) and child physical abuse potential, in a Portuguese community sample. It was hypothesized that the possible observed differences between divorced and married parents in the child physical abuse potential would be explained by their depression symptoms. Parents (N = 892) were assessed in their marital status, severity of depression symptoms and child physical abuse potential. Results showed that, when compared with married parents, divorced parents had higher child physical abuse potential. However, parents’ depression symptomatology was found as a mediator of the effect of marital status differences on child physical abuse potential. The influence of the status of divorced parents on the increase of child physical abuse potential was explained by the increase of the parents’ depression symptoms. This finding suggested that parents’ divorced status had no longer an effect on child physical abuse potential when parents’ depression symptomatology was tested as a mediator variable. The present mediation model explained 47 % of the variability in the child physical abuse potential score. Practical implications of these findings for prevention and psychological intervention are also discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Afifi, T. O., Boman, J., Fleisher, W., & Sareen, J. (2009). The relationship between child abuse, parental divorce, and lifetime mental disorders and suicidality in a nationally representative adult sample. Child Abuse & Neglect, 33, 139–147. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2008.12.009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Afifi, T. O., Cox, B. J., & Enns, M. W. (2006). Mental health profiles among married, never-married, and separated/divorced mothers in a nationally representative sample. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 41, 122–129. doi:10.1007/s00127-005-0005-3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Avison, W. R., Ali, J., & Walters, D. (2007). Family structure, stress, and psychological distress: A demonstration of the impact of differential exposure. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 48, 301–317. doi:10.1177/002214650704800307.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barth, R., Semidei, J., Radel, L. F., Nolan, C., Pierce, R. L., Pierce, L. H., et al. (2009). Preventing child abuse and neglect with parent training: Evidence and opportunities. The Future of Children, 19, 95–118. doi:10.1353/foc.0.0031.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bauserman, R. (2012). A meta-analysis of parental satisfaction, adjustment, and conflict in joint custody and sole custody following divorce. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 53, 464–488. doi:10.1080/10502556.2012.682901.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benazzi, F., & Akiskal, H. (2005). Irritable-hostile depression: Further validation as a bipolar depressive mixed state. Journal of Affective Disorders, 84, 197–207. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2004.07.006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Breslau, J., Miller, E., Jin, R., Sampson, N. A., Alonso, J., Andrade, L. H., et al. (2011). A multinational study of mental disorders, marriage, and divorce. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 124, 474–486. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0447.2011.01712.x.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Bromet, E., Andrade, L. H., Hwang, I., Sampson, N. A., Alonso, J., de Girolamo, G., et al. (2011). Cross-national epidemiology of DSM-IV major depressive episode. BMC Medicine, 9, 90 doi:10.1186/1741-7015-9-90.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Bulloch, A. G., Williams, J. V., Lavorato, D. H., & Patten, S. B. (2009). The relationship between major depression and marital disruption is bidirectional. Depression and Anxiety, 26, 1172–1177. doi:10.1002/da.20618.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Callender, K. A., Olson, S. L., Choe, D. E., & Sameroff, A. J. (2012). The effects of parental depressive symptoms, appraisals, and physical punishment on later child externalizing behavior. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 40(3), 471–483. doi:10.1007/s10802-011-9572-9.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Canavarro, C. (1999). Inventário de sintomas psicopatológicos: BSI [The brief symptoms inventory: BSI]. In M. Simões, M. Gonçalves, & L. Almeida (Eds.), Testes e provas psicológicas em Portugal [Psychological tests in Portugal] (pp. 95–109). Braga: APPORT.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chaffin, M., Silovsky, J. F., Funderburk, B., Valle, L. A., Brestan, E. V., Balachova, T., et al. (2004). Parent-child interaction therapy with physically abusive parents: Efficacy for reducing future abuse reports. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 72, 500–510. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.72.3.500.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke-Stewart, A., & Brentano, C. (2006). Divorce: Causes and consequences. London: Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collishaw, S., Pickles, A., Messer, J., Rutter, M., Shearer, C., & Maughan, B. (2007). Resilience to adult psychopathology following childhood maltreatment: Evidence from a community sample. Child Abuse & Neglect, 31, 211–229. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2007.02.004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Corcoran, P., & Nagar, A. (2010). Suicide and marital status in Northern Ireland. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 45, 795–800. doi:10.1007/s00127-009-0120-7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • DeGarmo, D. S., Patterson, G. R., & Forgatch, M. S. (2004). How do outcomes in a specified parent training intervention maintain or wane over time? Prevention Science, 5, 73–89. doi:10.1023/B:PREV.0000023078.30191.e0.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Derogatis, L. R., & Melisaratos, N. (1983). The brief symptom inventory: An introductory report. Psychological Medicine, 13, 595–605. doi:10.1017/S0033291700048017.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dubowitz, H., Kim, J., Black, M. M., Weisbart, C., Semiatin, J., & Magder, L. S. (2011). Identifying children at high risk for a child maltreatment report. Child Abuse & Neglect, 35, 96–104. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2010.09.003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Figueiredo, B., Bifulco, A., Paiva, C., Maia, Â., Fernandes, E., & Matos, R. (2004). History of childhood abuse in Portuguese parents. Child Abuse & Neglect, 28, 669–682. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2003.11.021.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forgatch, M. S., & DeGarmo, D. S. (1999). Parenting through change: An effective prevention program for single mothers. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 67, 711–724. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.67.5.711.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fuller-Thomson, E., & Sawyer, J. -L. (2014). Is the cluster risk model of parental adversities better than the cumulative risk model as an indicator of childhood physical abuse?: Findings from two representative community surveys. Child: Care, Health and Development, 40, 124–133. doi:10.1111/cch.12024.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibson-Davis, C. M., & Gassman-Pines, A. (2010). Early childhood family structure and mother–child interactions: Variation by race and ethnicity. Developmental Psychology, 46, 151–164. doi:10.1037/a0017410.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gomes, J. (2010). Validação da versão portuguesa do child abuse potencial inventory [Validation of the Portuguese version of the child abuse potential inventory] (Unpublished master’s thesis). Braga, University of Minho.

  • Hayes, A. (2013). Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis. New York, NY: Guilford. doi:978-1-60918-230-4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hetherington, M., & Kelly, J. (2002). For better or for worse: Divorce reconsidered. New York, NY: W.W. Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hien, D., Cohen, L. R., Caldeira, N. A., Flom, P., & Wasserman, G. (2010). Depression and anger as risk factors underlying the relationship between maternal substance involvement and child abuse potential. Child Abuse & Neglect, 34, 105–113. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2009.05.006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • INE. (2002). Censos 2001: Resultados definitivos—região Norte [Census 2001: Final results—Northern region]. Lisbon: Instituto Nacional de Estatística.

    Google Scholar 

  • INE. (2012). Censos 2011: Resultados definitivos—região Norte [Census 2011: Final results—Northern region]. Lisbon: Instituto Nacional de Estatística.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaser, S. S., Fear, J. M., Reeslund, K. L., Champion, J. E., Reising, M. M., & Compas, B. E. (2008). Maternal sadness and adolescents’ responses to stress in offspring of mothers with and without a history of depression. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 37, 736–746. doi:10.1080/15374410802359742.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Klevens, J., & Whitaker, D. J. (2007). Primary prevention of child physical abuse and neglect: Gaps and promising directions. Child Maltreatment, 12(4), 364–377. doi:10.1177/1077559507305995.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kraemer, H. C., Stice, E., Kazdin, A., Offord, D., & Kupfer, D. (2001). How do risk factors work together? Mediators, moderators, and independent, overlapping, and proxy risk factors. American Journal of Psychiatry, 158, 848–865. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.158.6.848.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lamela, D., Figueiredo, B., & Bastos, A. (2014). The Portuguese version of the psychological adjustment to separation test-part A (PAST-A): A study with recently and non-recently divorced adults. Journal of Happiness Studies, 15, 387–406. doi:10.1007/s10902-013-9427-x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, S. J., Lansford, J. E., Pettit, G. S., Bates, J. E., & Dodge, K. A. (2012). Parental agreement of reporting parent to child aggression using the conflict tactics scales. Child Abuse & Neglect, 36, 510–518. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2012.04.005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, S. J., Perron, B. E., Taylor, C. A., & Guterman, N. B. (2011). Paternal psychosocial characteristics and corporal punishment of their 3-year-old children. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 26, 71–87. doi:10.1177/0886260510362888.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lillberg, K., Verkasalo, P. K., Kaprio, J., Teppo, L., Helenius, H., & Koskenvuo, M. (2003). Stressful life events and risk of breast cancer in 10,808 women: A cohort study. American Journal of Epidemiology, 157, 415–423. doi:10.1093/aje/kwg002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lorenz, F. O., Wickrama, K. A., Conger, R. D., & Elder, Jr., G. H. (2006). The short-term and decade-long effects of divorce on women’s midlife health. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 47, 111–125. doi:10.1177/002214650604700202.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lovejoy, M. C., Graczyk, P. A., O’Hare, E., & Neuman, G. (2000). Maternal depression and parenting behavior: A meta-analytic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 20, 561–592. doi:10.1016/S0272-7358(98)00100-7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lucas, R. E. (2005). Time does not heal all wounds: A longitudinal study of reaction and adaptation to divorce. Psychological Science, 16, 945–950. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9280.2005.01642.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mammen, O. K., Kolko, D. J., & Pilkonis, P. A. (2002). Negative affect and parental aggression in child physical abuse. Child Abuse & Neglect, 26, 407–424. doi:10.1016/S0145-2134(02)00316-2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mancini, A. D., Bonanno, G. A., & Clark, A. E. (2011). Stepping off the hedonic treadmill: Individual differences in response to major life events. Journal of Individual Differences, 32, 144–152. doi:10.1027/1614-0001/a000047.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maxwell, S. E., & Cole, D. A. (2007). Bias in cross-sectional analyses of longitudinal mediation. Psychological Methods, 12, 23–44. doi:10.1037/1082-989x.12.1.23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Medley, A., & Sachs-Ericsson, N. (2009). Predictors of parental physical abuse: The contribution of internalizing and externalizing disorders and childhood experiences of abuse. Journal of Affective Disorders, 113, 244–254. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2008.05.020.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Middeldorp, C. M., Cath, D. C., Beem, A. L., Willemsen, G., & Boomsma, D. I. (2008). Life events, anxious depression and personality: A prospective and genetic study. Psychological Medicine, 38, 1557–1565. doi:10.1017/S0033291708002985.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Milner, J. (1986). The child abuse potential inventory manual. 2nd edn. DeKalb, IL: Psyctec.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miragoli, S., Camisasca, E., & Di Blasio, P. (2015). Validation of the child abuse potential inventory in Italy. SAGE Open, 5, 1–12. doi:10.1177/2158244015597044.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osborne, C., Berger, L. M., & Magnuson, K. (2012). Family structure transitions and changes in maternal resources and well-being. Demography, 49, 23–47. doi:10.1007/s13524-011-0080-x.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, G., & Forgatch, M. (1990). Initiation and maintenance of process disrupting single-mother families. In G. Patterson (Ed.), Depression and aggression in family interaction (pp. 209–245). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Preacher, K. J., & Hayes, A. F. (2008). Asymptotic and resampling strategies for assessing and comparing indirect effects in multiple mediator models. Behavior Research Methods, 40, 879–891. doi:10.3758/BRM.40.3.879.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Preacher, K. J., Rucker, D. D., & Hayes, A. F. (2007). Addressing moderated mediation hypotheses: Theory, methods, and prescriptions. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 42, 185–227. doi:10.1080/00273170701341316.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Prinz, R. J., Sanders, M. R., Shapiro, C. J., Whitaker, D. J., & Lutzker, J. R. (2009). Population-based prevention of child maltreatment: The U.S. triple P system population trial. Prevention Science, 10, 1–12. doi:10.1007/s11121-009-0123-3.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Reed, A., Snyder, J., Staats, S., Forgatch, M. S., Degarmo, D. S., Patterson, G. R., et al. (2013). Duration and mutual entrainment of changes in parenting practices engendered by behavioral parent training targeting recently separated mothers. Journal of Family Psychology, 27, 343–354. doi:10.1037/a0032887.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Riley, A. W., Valdez, C. R., Barrueco, S., Mills, C., Beardslee, W., Sandler, I., & Rawal, P. (2008). Development of a family-based program to reduce risk and promote resilience among families affected by maternal depression: Theoretical basis and program description. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 11, 12–29. doi:10.1007/s10567-008-0030-3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sbarra, D. A., Law, R. W., & Portley, R. M. (2011). Divorce and death: A meta-analysis and research agenda for clinical, social, and health psychology. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 6, 454–474. doi:10.1177/1745691611414724.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shay, N. L., & Knutson, J. F. (2008). Maternal depression and trait anger as risk factors for escalated physical discipline. Child Maltreatment, 13, 39–49. doi:10.1177/1077559507310611.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Sidebotham, P., & Golding, J. (2001). Child maltreatment in the “children of the nineties”: A longitudinal study of parental risk factors. Child Abuse & Neglect, 25, 1177–1200. doi:10.1016/S0145-2134(01)00261-7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stith, S. M., Liu, T., Davies, L. C., Boykin, E. L., Alder, M. C., Harris, J. M., et al. (2009). Risk factors in child maltreatment: A meta-analytic review of the literature. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 14, 13–29. doi:10.1016/j.avb.2006.03.006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strohschein, L. (2007). Challenging the presumption of diminished capacity to parent: Does divorce really change parenting practices? Family Relations, 56, 358–368. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3729.2007.00465.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner, H. A., Finkelhor, D., & Ormrod, R. (2007). Family structure variations in patterns and predictors of child victimization. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 77, 282–295. doi:10.1037/0002-9432.77.2.282.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Turney, K. (2011). Labored love: Examining the link between maternal depression and parenting behaviors. Social Science Research, 40, 399–415. doi:10.1016/j.ssresearch.2010.09.009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Eck, M., Berkhof, H., Nicolson, N., & Sulon, J. (2005). The effects of perceived stress, traits, mood states, and stressful daily events on salivary cortisol. Psychosomatic Medicine, 58, 447–458. doi:10.1097/00006842-199609000-00007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weissman, A. M., Jogerst, G. J., & Dawson, J. D. (2003). Community characteristics associated with child abuse in Iowa. Child Abuse & Neglect, 27, 1145–1159. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2003.09.002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, S., & Durbin, C. E. (2010). Effects of paternal depression on fathers’ parenting behaviors: A meta-analytic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 30, 167–180. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2009.10.007.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, S. S., Ma, C. X., Carter, R. L., Ariet, M., Feaver, E. A., Resnick, M. B., & Roth, J. (2004). Risk factors for infant maltreatment: A population-based study. Child Abuse & Neglect, 28, 1253–1264. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2004.07.005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yárnoz-Yaben, S. (2015). Forgiveness, adjustment to divorce and support from the former spouse in Spain. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 24, 289–297. doi:10.1007/s10826-013-9835-x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yárnoz-Yaben, S., Garmendia, A., & Comino, P. (2016). Looking at the bright side: Forgiveness and subjective well-being in divorced Spanish parents. Journal of Happiness Studies, 17, 1905–1919. doi:10.1007/s10902-015-9677-x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, Education & Sports, Lusófona University of Porto, 4000-098, Porto, Portugal

    Diogo Lamela

  2. School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal

    Bárbara Figueiredo

Authors
  1. Diogo Lamela
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bárbara Figueiredo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Diogo Lamela.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lamela, D., Figueiredo, B. Parents’ Marital Status and Child Physical Abuse Potential: The Mediation of Depression Symptoms. J Child Fam Stud 26, 1068–1076 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-016-0622-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-016-0622-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation