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Interpersonal Dependency in Child Abuse Perpetrators and Victims: A Meta-Analytic Review

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Abstract

Meta-analysis of studies assessing interpersonal dependency in child abuse perpetrators (N of studies = 7) and victims (N of studies = 9) indicated that perpetrators have higher dependency levels than nonabusing controls (d = 0.43), and child abuse victims have higher dependency levels in early adulthood than people who were not abused as children (d = 0.47). An array of other personality traits and disorders showed comparable associations with abuse suggesting that in both populations increased dependency reflects a generalized increase in pathology and distress. Theoretical implications of these results are discussed, and suggestions for future research on dependency and abuse are offered.

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  1. Department of Psychology, Gettysburg College, Box 407, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, 17325

    Robert F. Bornstein

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Bornstein, R.F. Interpersonal Dependency in Child Abuse Perpetrators and Victims: A Meta-Analytic Review. J Psychopathol Behav Assess 27, 67–76 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-005-5381-1

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