Exploring Relationships Between Caregiver and Child Adversity and Parenting Style
Abstract
Extant literature reveals a robust association between caregiver adversity and that of their offspring. We explored how/if such associations were underwritten by intraclass correlations within adversity subtypes. Additionally, we were interested in whether parenting style mediated these associations. 327 caregivers provided anonymous data on themselves and their children via links posted on social media and listservs. We measured caregivers’ and children’s adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) using the Health-Resiliency-Stress Questionnaire. We divided ACEs into four subtypes: abuse, neglect, household dysfunction, and community violence. We also measured degree of authoritativeness, permissiveness, and authoritarianism using the Parental Attitudes Questionnaire. Pearson intra- and cross-class correlations were calculated between caregiver and child ACE scores. We found significant intraclass correlations for three subtypes: abuse (r=.248, p<.001), community violence (r=.177, p =.005), and household dysfunction (r=.175, p=.002). The interclass correlation for neglect was not statistically significant. Two cross-class correlations also emerged, but they were weaker than the intraclass correlations. Parent abuse ACEs predicted children’s neglect ACEs (r=.146, p=.024) and their household dysfunction ACEs (r=.164, p=.004). The authoritarian parenting domain was most predictive of children’s ACEs. However, permissiveness was negatively correlated with child neglect ACEs (r=-.185,=.004). For the mediation analysis, we first regressed cumulative child ACEs on cumulative caregiver ACEs. The association was significant [F(1,324) = 8.126, p<.01; B=.09, p<.01]. We next tested whether any parenting styles mediated this association. In three independent analyses, we regressed caregiver parenting style scores and children’s ACE scores on caregiver’s ACE scores. In all three cases, the direct path remained significant, whereas none of the indirect paths achieved significance. Our hypotheses were partially supported. Significant interclass correlations were as predicted. Caregivers with ACEs in abuse or household dysfunction domains reported parallel categories of adversity for their children. However, these associations were not mediated by parenting style as we believed they might be.
Start Time
16-4-2025 1:30 PM
End Time
16-4-2025 4:00 PM
Presentation Type
Poster
Presentation Category
Social Sciences
Student Type
Undergraduate Student
Faculty Mentor
Wallace Dixon
Faculty Department
Psychology
Exploring Relationships Between Caregiver and Child Adversity and Parenting Style
Extant literature reveals a robust association between caregiver adversity and that of their offspring. We explored how/if such associations were underwritten by intraclass correlations within adversity subtypes. Additionally, we were interested in whether parenting style mediated these associations. 327 caregivers provided anonymous data on themselves and their children via links posted on social media and listservs. We measured caregivers’ and children’s adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) using the Health-Resiliency-Stress Questionnaire. We divided ACEs into four subtypes: abuse, neglect, household dysfunction, and community violence. We also measured degree of authoritativeness, permissiveness, and authoritarianism using the Parental Attitudes Questionnaire. Pearson intra- and cross-class correlations were calculated between caregiver and child ACE scores. We found significant intraclass correlations for three subtypes: abuse (r=.248, p<.001), community violence (r=.177, p =.005), and household dysfunction (r=.175, p=.002). The interclass correlation for neglect was not statistically significant. Two cross-class correlations also emerged, but they were weaker than the intraclass correlations. Parent abuse ACEs predicted children’s neglect ACEs (r=.146, p=.024) and their household dysfunction ACEs (r=.164, p=.004). The authoritarian parenting domain was most predictive of children’s ACEs. However, permissiveness was negatively correlated with child neglect ACEs (r=-.185,=.004). For the mediation analysis, we first regressed cumulative child ACEs on cumulative caregiver ACEs. The association was significant [F(1,324) = 8.126, p<.01; B=.09, p<.01]. We next tested whether any parenting styles mediated this association. In three independent analyses, we regressed caregiver parenting style scores and children’s ACE scores on caregiver’s ACE scores. In all three cases, the direct path remained significant, whereas none of the indirect paths achieved significance. Our hypotheses were partially supported. Significant interclass correlations were as predicted. Caregivers with ACEs in abuse or household dysfunction domains reported parallel categories of adversity for their children. However, these associations were not mediated by parenting style as we believed they might be.