How Strong Is a Mother's Love? Exploring the Mediating Role of Mother-Child Relationship Quality on the Link between Child Abuse Experiences and Adult Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration

PurposeIntimate partner violence (IPV) has detrimental effects on individuals physical and mental health. Intergenerational violence transmission theory posits that child abuse (CA) is an important determinant of later IPV perpetration due to socially learned aggression and expectations of violence in romantic relationships. However, less research exists on family protective factors like the mother-child relationship, the strength of which may mediate this link. The present study explored the association between mother-child relationships, child abuse, and adult IPV perpetration--specifically, whether mother-child relationship quality mediated the effects on the link between child abuse and later IPV. MethodsThis study analyzed data from individuals who completed Waves I and Wave IV of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (N=3718 respondents). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to investigate mediation dynamics between CA, mother-child relationship, and adult IPV perpetration. ResultsStructural equation model fit the data well (CFI = .918, RMSEA = .051 [.045, .057]). The mediation model revealed that the direct effect of childhood abuse on IPV was .067 (p<.001), while the indirect effect of childhood abuse on IPV (i.e., the effect operating through the mother-child relationship) was .005 (p<.001). ConclusionsWhile CA remains a significant risk factor for adult IPV perpetration, findings suggest that high-quality mother-child relationships may have a buffering effect and aid in preventing intergenerational violence transmission. Continued efforts to research, fund, and implement interventions that build healthy family dynamics are needed to support traumatized children into adulthood and end intergenerational violence.