Abstract
There is a paucity of research on family adjustment following child abuse disclosure including non-Western samples. The overarching aim of the current study was to investigate perceived family relations and family functioning in non-offending caregivers (NOCs) of abused children compared with parents of non-abused children in a Filipino sample. In particular, we investigated whether parental history of abuse and current depression and anxiety/stress would influence NOCs’ perceptions of parent–child relations, spousal/partner relationship satisfaction, social support and family functioning compared to caregivers of non-abused children. A self-report survey was completed by 92 NOCs and 94 parents of non-abused children from the Philippines. Results revealed that NOCs of abused children reported poorer parent–child relations, lower spousal/partner relationship satisfaction, greater family disengagement and chaotic family functioning than parents of non-abused children. Furthermore, depressed and anxious/stressed parents (irrespective of whether their child was abused or not) reported significant conflict and distant child–parent relationship, as well as poorer family functioning including poor communication and low family satisfaction. Interestingly however, parental abuse history did not have a significant interaction effect between the two parental groups on any of the outcomes. These findings underscore the need to assess both NOCs’ and clinically distressed caregivers in relation to their child and partner/spouse relations and family functioning in order to provide targeted interventions to improve family outcomes.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bello, A. M., Robles, J. N., Sarmiento, A. F., Tuliao, A. P., & Reyes, R. C. (2011). Motivation, cognitive, and affective factors that predict smoking relapse: A cross-sectional study in a Filipino sample. Journal of Smoking Cessation, 6, 17–24.
Blake, D., Weathers, F., Nagy, L., Kaloupek, D., Gusman, F., Charney, D., & Keane, T. (1995). The development of a Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 8, 75–90. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02105408.
Carandang, M. N. S., & Guda, I. V. P. (2015). Indicators of marital satisfaction of Batangueno couples: Components of love and the other external factors in marriage. International Journal of Information and Education Technology, 5, 60–67. https://doi.org/10.7763/IJIET.2015.V5.477.
Cohen, S., & Wills, T. A. (1985). Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis. Psychological Bulletin, 98, 310–357.
Cross, W. (2001). A personal history of childhood sexual abuse: Parenting patterns and problems. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 6, 563–574. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104501006004010.
Cummings, E. M., Keller, P. S., & Davies, P. T. (2005). Towards a family process model of maternal and paternal depressive symptoms: Exploring multiple relations with child and family functioning. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines, 46, 479–489. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2004.00368.x.
Domhardt, M., Münzer, A., Fegert, J. M., & Goldbeck, L. (2014). Resilience in survivors of child sexual abuse: A systematic review of the literature. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 16, 476–493. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838014557288.
Ehrensaft, M. K., Knous-Westfall, H. M., Cohen, P., & Chen, H. (2015). How does child abuse history influence oarenting of the next generation? Psychology of Violence, 5, 16–25. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0036080.
Fowler, C., & Gasiorek, J. (2016). Depressive symptoms, excessive reassurance seeking, and relationship maintenance. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 34, 91–113. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407515624265.
Funk, J. L., & Rogge, R. D. (2007). Testing the ruler with item response theory: Increasing precision of measurement for relationship satisfaction with the couples satisfaction index. Journal of Family Psychology, 21, 572–583. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.21.4.572.
Goff, B. S. N., Reisbig, A. M., Bole, A., Scheer, T., Hayes, E., Archuleta, K. L., et. al. (2006). The effects of trauma on intimate relationships: A qualitative study with clinical couples. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 76, 451–460. https://doi.org/10.1037/0002-9432.76.4.451.
Gray, M. J., Litz, B. T., Hsu, J. L., & Lombardo, T. W. (2004). Psychometric properties of the life events checklist. Assessment, 11, 330–341. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191104269954.
Herr, N. R., Hammen, C., & Brennan, P. A. (2007). Current and past depression as predictors of family functioning: A comparison of men and women in a community sample. Journal of Family Psychology, 21, 694–702. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.21.4.694.
Kim, K., Noll, J. G., Putnam, F. W., & Trickett, P. K. (2007). Psychosocial characteristics of nonoffending mothers of sexually abused girls: Findings from a prospective, multigenerational study. Child Maltreatment, 12, 338–351. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077559507305997.
Landau, J., Mittal, M., & Wieling, E. (2008). Linking human systems: Strengthening individuals, families, and communities in the wake of mass trauma. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 34, 193–209. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2008.00064.x.
Levendosky, A. A., & Graham-Bermann, S. A. (2001). Parenting in battered women: The effects of domestic violence on women and their children. Journal of Family Violence, 16, 171–192. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011111003373.
Li, L., Lin, X., Chi, P., Heath, M. A., Fang, X., Du, H., & Wang, Z. (2016). Maltreatment and emotional and behavioral problems in Chinese children with and without Oppositional Defiant Disorder: The mediating role of the parent–child relationship. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 31(18), 2915–2939. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260515624234.
Lovejoy, M. C., Graczyk, P. A., O’Hare, E., & Neuman, G. (2000). Maternal depression and parenting behavior: A meta-analytic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 20, 561–592. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0272-7358(98)00100-7.
Lovibond, P. F., & Lovibond, S. H. (1995). The structure of negative emotional states: Comparison of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) with the Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 33, 335–343. https://doi.org/10.1016/0005-7967(94)00075-U.
Madonna, P. G., Van Scoyk, S., & Jones, D. P. (1991). Family interactions within incest and nonincest families. American Journal of Psychiatry, 148, 46–49.
Mannarino, A., Cohen, J., Deblinger, E., & Steer, R. (2007). Self-reported depression in mothers of children who have experienced sexual abuse. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 29, 203–210. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-006-9036-7.
Markus, H. R., & Kitayama, S. (1991). Culture and the self: Implications for cognition, emotion, and motivation. Psychological Review, 98, 224–253.
Morillo, H. M., Capuno, J. J., & Mendoza, A. M. (2013). Views and values on family among Filipinos: An empirical exploration. Asian Journal of Social Science, 41, 5–28. https://doi.org/10.1163/15685314-12341278.
Oei, T. P. S., Sawang, S., Goh, Y. W., & Mukhtar, F. (2013). Using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21) across cultures. International Journal of Psychology, 48, 1018–1029. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207594.2012.755535.
Olson, D. H. (2011). FACES IV and the circumplex model: Validation study. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 37, 64–80. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2009.00175.x.
Panganiban-Corales, A. T Medina, M. F., Jr. (2011). Family resources study Part 1: Family resources, family function and caregiver strain in childhood cancer. Asia Pacific Family Medicine, 10, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1186/1447-056X-10-14.
Pianta, R. C. (1992). Child-parent relationship scale. Charlottesville, Virginia, USA: University of Virginia. Unpublished measure.
Plummer, C. A., & Eastin, J. (2007). The effect of child sexual abuse allegations/ investigations on the mother/child relationship. Violence Against Women, 13, 1053–1071. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801207305931.
Rakow, A., Smith, D., Begle, A. M., & Ayer, L. (2011). The association of maternal depressive symptoms with child externalizing problems: The role of maternal support following child sexual abuse. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 20, 467–480. https://doi.org/10.1080/10538712.2011.588189.
Rind, B., Tromovitch, P., & Bauserman, R. (1998). A meta-analytic examination of assumed properties of child sexual abuse using college samples. Psychological Bulletin, 124, 22–53.
Roberts, R., O’Connor, T., Dunn, J., & Golding, J. (2004). The effects of child sexual abuse in later family life; mental health, parenting and adjustment of offspring. Child Abuse & Neglect, 28(5), 525–545. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2003.07.006.
Santa-Sosa, E. J., Steer, R. A., Deblinger, E., & Runyon, M. K. (2013). Depression and parenting by nonoffending mothers of children who experienced sexual abuse. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 22, 915–930. https://doi.org/10.1080/10538712.2013.841309.
Sarason, I. G., Sarason, B. R., Shearin, E. N., & Pierce, G. R. (1987). A brief measure of social support: Practical and theoretical implications. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 4, 497–510. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407587044007.
Sharabi, L. L., Delaney, A. L., & Knobloch, L. K. (2016). In their own words: How clinical depression affects romantic relationships. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 33, 421–448. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407515578820.
Tarroja, M. (2012). Revisiting the definition and concept of Filipino family: A psychological perspective. Philippine Journal of Psychology, 43(2), 177–193.
Thoits, P. A. (1995). Stress, coping, and social support processes: Where are we? What next? Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 35, 53–79.
Umeda, M., Kawakami, N., Kessler, R. C., & Miller, E. (2015). Childhood adversities and adult use of potentially injurious physical discipline in Japan. Journal of Family Violence, 30, 515–527. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-015-9692-z.
Yeh, C. J., & Inose, M. (2003). International students’ reported English fluency, social support satisfaction, and social connectedness as predictors of acculturative stress. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 16, 15–28.
Author Contributions
F.C.: collected data, conducted initial data analyses, and wrote initial manuscript; M.K.: assisted in finalizing study design, assisted in final data analyses, and revising/editing and finalizing the manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Ethical Approval
The study was approved by the authors’ institutional human ethics committee board (Macquarie University Human Research Ethics Committee).
Informed Consent
All participants provided informed consent to take part in this research.
Electronic supplementary material
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cabbigat, F.K., Kangas, M. Parental Relations and Family Functioning in Non-Offending Caregivers of Abused Children. J Child Fam Stud 27, 1287–1298 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-017-0972-5
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-017-0972-5