factors associated with parent/caregiver child abuse tanisha grimes, phd, mph project director, ga...

Factors Associated With Parent/Caregiver Child Abuse

Tanisha Grimes, PhD, MPHProject Director, GA Child Traumatic Stress Initiative

The Stephanie V. Blank Center for Safe and Healthy Children, A Service of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite

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Why do parents/caregivers abuse children?

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“Why do you think parents abuse their children?”

• “Environmental Stress”• “Drugs, PTSD and low self-esteem”• “Domestic violence, history of abuse”• “Unrealistic age-appropriate expectations”• “Conflict with other parent”• “Stress over finances, low-income”• “Poor coping skills, dealing with anger”

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Breaking the Cycle

“I am a parent and a survivor of childhood abuse. That type of behavior is learned. When that is the only way you know how to solve a problem, that is what you do, you live what you learn. I have tried VERY hard to break the cycle. I can honestly say I have never abused my children. It takes learning new methods of coping and finding ways to deal with your anger.”

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Factors Associated With Child Maltreatment

Caregiver Factors Family Factors

Child Development

Factors

Environmental Factors

Cultural Factors

Administration for Children and Families, 2003

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Parent/Caregiver Factors

• Psychological Well-being• History of abuse• Substance abuse• Knowledge of child development

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Family Factors

• Family structure• Marital Conflict • Domestic Violence• Stress• Parent-child interaction

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Child Development Factors

• Age• Disabilities• Child Temperament

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Environmental Factors

• Poverty and Unemployment

• Social Isolation and Social Support

• Violent Communities

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Cultural Factors

• Abuse v/s Discipline• Accepted cultural practices• Religious beliefs

In their own words…

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A Father, Physical Abuser

“My father was the boss in the house and this is how I was taught things should be.”

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A Father, Sexual Abuser

“I’m worried about myself because a lot of people say I did it because I was abused, I did it because I was angry, and I wanted to take it out on them sexually. I did it because of this. I did it because of that. I don't understand that. I just felt like I just wanted to sexualize them. By sexualize I mean just get your rocks off or whatever in a different way, a sexual high.”

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A Father, Sexual Abuser

“I need a fix because I was feeling crappy. Maybe I didn’t get the contract I bid for, or my wife and I had a fight about something where I’d rather go spend some time by myself but I can’t…My relationship with my wife was so difficult and so complicated and arguments and the whole deal. How can I tell my wife I want to be alone?”

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A Mother, Physical Abuser

“Nothing else I do works, he doesn’t listen, I tried other forms of discipline. I get so angry because nothing works.”

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A Father, Sexual Abuser

“The only time I really felt good was when I was acting out sexually. It was safe for me. It was like everything around me was so dark. I wasn’t getting any good feelings from anywhere. I had convinced myself that I didn’t deserve them. No one really knows me. They just know the image. They didn’t love me. They loved the façade. I just felt miserable.”

What were some reoccurring words, phrases or themes that you heard?

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Reoccurring Words and Phrases

• “I was taught”• “I was abused”• “I was angry”• “I was feeling crappy”• “I had a fight”• “My relationship was complicated”• “He doesn’t listen”• “The only time I really felt good”

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In Their Own Voice

• http://www.nbc4i.com/story/21018204/coshocton-parents-admit-to-abusing-their-baby-boy

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Summary

• No one reason why abuse occurs• Myriad of overlapping factors• Many parents/caregivers do not believe they are

abusing their children• Focus on the different factors to help parents

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Questions?

Tanisha Grimes, PhD, MPHProject Director

Email: tanisha.grimes@choa.org