Maternal History of Childhood Violence in the Context of a Parenting Program

Author(s)

Pisani Altafim, Elisa Rachel ^[1] ; de Oliveira, Rebeca Cristina ^{[1, 2]} ; Martins Linhares, Maria Beatriz ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto Med Sch, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Sci & Literature Sch, Ribeirao Preto Philosophy, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF CHILD AND FAMILY STUDIES; v. 30, n. 1, p. 230-242, JAN 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a universal parenting program of violence prevention against children to improve the parenting practices in groups of mothers differentiated by the presence or not of a history of adverse childhood experiences. The study also aimed to characterize the types of violence experienced by the participants. A mixed-methods approach was used with qualitative and quantitative analyzes. The study sample consisted of 125 mothers of 3- to 8-year-old children. Mothers participated in the ACT-Raising Safe Kids Program with pre- and post-intervention evaluations. A self-report questionnaire was used to assess mothers' parenting practices (emotional and behavioral regulation, communication, and positive discipline). After the intervention, an individual interview was carried out, including open-ended questions about the participants' history of relationship with their parents and violence and maltreatment situations in their childhood. For the analysis, the mothers were divided into two groups, with a history of violence in childhood (VG; n = 103) and without violence in childhood (CG; n = 24). Results showed a high prevalence (81%) of mothers who reported violent episodes in their childhood, predominantly physical abuse. In the ACT post-intervention, both groups of mothers reported improvements in all dimensions of their parenting practices. In conclusion, the mothers improved their parenting practices after participation in a preventive program, regardless of their history of violence in childhood. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/25293-8 - EVALUATING THE EFICACY OF A PREVENTIVE INTERVENTION IN PARENTING EDUCATION PRACTICES
• Grantee: Elisa Rachel Pisani Altafim
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 15/21721-3 - Relationships between parenting practices and child behavior: examining the effects of maternal contextual and child factors
• Grantee: Elisa Rachel Pisani Altafim
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate