"It's so beneficial to be able to stop the cycle: Perceptions of intergenerational transmission of violence and parenting practices among pregnant

TY - JOUR

T1 - "It's so beneficial to be able to stop the cycle

T2 - Perceptions of intergenerational transmission of violence and parenting practices among pregnant

AU - Taccini, Federica

AU - Domoney, Jill

AU - Ocloo, Josephine

AU - Heslin, Margaret

AU - Byford, Sarah

AU - Bick, Debra

AU - Howard, Louise

AU - Macmillan, Harriet

AU - Mannarini, Stefania

AU - Ramchandani, Paul

AU - Stanley, Nicky

AU - Trevillion, Kylee

PY - 2024/2/10

Y1 - 2024/2/10

N2 - Purpose: This study aimed to explore how pregnant women who experience Domestic Violence and Abuse (DVA) and men who commit DVA understand the impact of their childhood environment on their current parenting practices and how a DVA psychological intervention may shape their parenting. Methods: Repeated individual qualitative interviews were conducted with pregnant mothers and fathers who reported DVA and were taking part in a psychological intervention to address DVA. Interviews were carried out at the start (during pregnancy) and end of the intervention (two years post-childbirth). Reflexive Thematic Analysis was used to analyse interviews. Results: 56 interviews (26 mothers; 13 fathers) were analysed. Five themes were identified: (1) Acknowledging childhood experiences of DVA; (2) The scars of traumatic experiences; (3) Challenging the silencing of abuse; (4) The transmission of parenting styles and behaviours from one generation to another; (5) Becoming the best parent one can be. The intergenerational transmission of violence was identifiable in most narratives. Despite this, several participants described skills they acquired during the intervention (e.g., emotional regulation strategies) as assisting in interrupting violence and improving their relationships with their children. Conclusions: Participants who acknowledged having encountered ACEs recognised it as one of several risk factors for DVA in adulthood. They also discussed the potential for trauma-informed interventions to address the intergenerational transmission of violence and poor parenting practices.

AB - Purpose: This study aimed to explore how pregnant women who experience Domestic Violence and Abuse (DVA) and men who commit DVA understand the impact of their childhood environment on their current parenting practices and how a DVA psychological intervention may shape their parenting. Methods: Repeated individual qualitative interviews were conducted with pregnant mothers and fathers who reported DVA and were taking part in a psychological intervention to address DVA. Interviews were carried out at the start (during pregnancy) and end of the intervention (two years post-childbirth). Reflexive Thematic Analysis was used to analyse interviews. Results: 56 interviews (26 mothers; 13 fathers) were analysed. Five themes were identified: (1) Acknowledging childhood experiences of DVA; (2) The scars of traumatic experiences; (3) Challenging the silencing of abuse; (4) The transmission of parenting styles and behaviours from one generation to another; (5) Becoming the best parent one can be. The intergenerational transmission of violence was identifiable in most narratives. Despite this, several participants described skills they acquired during the intervention (e.g., emotional regulation strategies) as assisting in interrupting violence and improving their relationships with their children. Conclusions: Participants who acknowledged having encountered ACEs recognised it as one of several risk factors for DVA in adulthood. They also discussed the potential for trauma-informed interventions to address the intergenerational transmission of violence and poor parenting practices.

KW - Domestic violence and abuse, intergenerational transmission, parenting, trauma, intervention

U2 - 10.1007/s10896-024-00685-0

DO - 10.1007/s10896-024-00685-0

M3 - Article

SN - 0885-7482

JO - JOURNAL OF FAMILY VIOLENCE

JF - JOURNAL OF FAMILY VIOLENCE

ER -