Differentiation, self-other representations, and rupture-repair processes: predicting child maltreatment-risk.
This set of studies was designed to examine the relational underpinnings of child abuse potential in a sample of 51 urban families. In Study 1, lower maternal differentiation of self-most notably, greater emotional reactivity and greater emotional cutoff-along with self-attacking introjects, together distinguished mothers at higher risk (vs. lower risk) for child maltreatment (CM). In Study 2, patterns of interactive rupture and repair were examined in a subsample of n = 15 families and found to vary as a function of risk for CM. Specifically, SASB coding (Benjamin, 1996, 2003) of mother-children interactions during two moderately stressful lab tasks revealed higher rates of interactive mismatch and mother-initiated ruptures, and fewer successful repairs in families at higher-risk-for-CM, relative to families at lower-risk. Implications for counseling and directions for further translational research are discussed.
Skowron
Elizabeth A
EA
Department of Counselor Education, Counseling Psychology, and Rehabilitation Services, Pennsylvania State University.
Kozlowski
JoEllen M
JM
McLaren Family Medicine Residency Program.
Pincus
Aaron L
AL
Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University.
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003376:Counseling; D004493:Education; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006791:Hostility; D006801:Humans; D007207:Individuation; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009769:Object Attachment; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012649:Self Concept; D012919:Social Behavior