Catherine A. Taylor ^1*, Neil B. Guterman ², Shawna J. Lee ³, Paul J. Rathouz ⁴

¹ Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA
² School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
³ School of Social Work, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
⁴ Department of Health Studies, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: cathy.a.taylor{at}gmail.com.

	Abstract

Objectives. We examined the associations of intimate partner violence (IPV) and maternal risk factors with maternal child maltreatment risk within a diverse sample of mothers.

Methods. We derived the study sample (N=2508) from the Fragile Families and Child Well-Being Study. We conducted regression analyses to examine associations between IPV, parenting stress, major depression, key covariates, and 4 proxy variables for maternal child maltreatment.

Results. Mothers reported an average of 25 acts of psychological aggression and 17 acts of physical aggression against their 3-year-old children in the year before the study, 11% reported some act of neglect toward their children during the same period, and 55% had spanked their children during the previous month. About 40% of mothers had experienced IPV by their current partner. IPV and maternal parenting stress were both consistent risk factors for all 4 maltreatment proxy variables. Although foreign-born mothers reported fewer incidents of child maltreatment, the IPV relative risk for child maltreatment was greater for foreign-born than for US-born mothers.

Conclusions. Further integration of IPV and child maltreatment prevention and intervention efforts is warranted; such efforts must carefully balance the needs of adult and child victims.

Key Words: Child and Adolescent Health, Immigration, Injury/Emergency Care/Violence, Mental Health, Women's Health

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Intimate Partner Violence and Maternal Maltreatment Journal Watch Psychiatry, January 26, 2009; 2009(126): 1 - 1. [Full Text]