Homotypical and Heterotypical Intergenerational Continuity of Child Maltreatment: Evidence from a Cohort of Families Involved with Child Protection Services

Rachel Langevin (), Audrey Kern, Tonino Esposito and Sonia Hélie
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Rachel Langevin: Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, McGill University, 3700 Rue McTavish, Montréal, QC H3A 1Y2, Canada
Audrey Kern: Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, McGill University, 3700 Rue McTavish, Montréal, QC H3A 1Y2, Canada
Tonino Esposito: School of Social Work, Université de Montréal, 3150 Rue Jean-Brillant, Montréal, QC H3T 1N8, Canada
Sonia Hélie: Institut Universitaire Jeunes en Difficulté, CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Ile-de-Montréal, 1001 Boulevard de Maisonneuve Est, Montréal, QC H2L 4P9, Canada

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 5, 1-15

Abstract: Child maltreatment (CM) in one generation can predict CM in the next generation, a concept known as intergenerational continuity. Yet, the form taken by the intergenerational continuity of CM remains unclear and fathers are mostly absent from this literature. This longitudinal study aimed to document patterns of intergenerational continuity of substantiated CM, on the maternal and paternal sides, by examining the presence of: homotypical CM, which is the same type of CM in both generations; and heterotypical CM, which is different CM types in both generations. The study included all children substantiated for CM with the Centre Jeunesse de Montréal between 1 January 2003, and 31 December 2020, with at least one parent who was also reported to that agency during their childhood ( n = 5861 children). The cohort was extracted using clinical administrative data, and logistic regression models were tested with the children’s CM types as the dependent variables. Homotypical continuity was found for: (1) physical abuse on the paternal side; (2) sexual abuse on the maternal side; and (3) exposure to domestic violence on the maternal side. Heterotypical continuity was also prevalent, but to a lesser extent. Interventions helping maltreated parents overcome their traumatic past are essential to foster intergenerational resilience.

Keywords: child maltreatment; child protection data; intergenerational continuity; multivariate models (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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