Do the norms of tolerance for child physical abuse modify the intergenerational transmission of physical abuse?

Abstract

Background

Intergenerational transmission of physical abuse is well-known; however, the potential for contextual effect modification remains unknown.

Objective

We investigated whether the norms of tolerance for child physical abuse modify the intergenerational transmission of physical abuse.

Participants and setting

Data from the Child Living Standard Survey (grades five and eight) conducted between 2016 and 2018 in three prefectures in Japan was analyzed.

Methods

The norms of tolerance for child physical abuse were calculated based on the proportion of caregivers who physically abuse their offspring in each of the 33 districts (n = 43,534). The caregivers' childhood physical abuse victimization and perpetration of child physical abuse were assessed via questionnaire. A multilevel analysis was performed to evaluate the cross-level interaction of the norms of tolerance for child physical abuse at the neighborhood level on the association between the caregiver's childhood physical abuse victimization and perpetration of child physical abuse, stratified by fathers (n = 4334) and mothers (n = 38,290).

Results

By district, the average percentage of caregivers who physically abuse their offspring was 14.4 %. Intergenerational transmission was confirmed for both fathers and mothers. Fathers who are living with highly tolerant norms for child physical abuse showed higher odds of intergenerational transmission of physical abuse, while mothers showed no effect modification.

Conclusion

The norms of tolerance for child physical abuse showed a more prominent intergenerational transmission of physical abuse for fathers but not for mothers. To modify the cycle of physical abuse, interventions to reduce norms of tolerance for child physical abuse may be useful.