Leiden University Student Repository

Wit, Camilla de (2026)

Intergenerationele Overdracht van Kindermishandeling: Mediatie Door Alcoholmisbruik van Moeders en Intieme Terreur Tegen Moeders

Master thesis | Education and Child Studies (MSc)

Child abuse can be transmitted from parent to child, which means that the adverse effects of child abuse stay persistent across generations. However, the specific pathways through which the transmission occurs remain unclear. This study aimed to find whether the intergenerational transmission of child abuse is mediated by alcohol misuse and intimate terrorism. It was hypothesized that mothers with a history of child abuse would be more likely to misuse alcohol, experience intimate terrorism and abuse their own child. Participants were 984 Dutch mothers who, within the last three months, had received a report from Veilig Thuis about child abuse, partner violence or child-to-parent violence. Data was collected through different selfreport questionnaires by the mothers. The findings revealed a significant indirect effect through intimate terrorism. However, alcohol misuse was not a significant mediator. These results suggest that intimate terrorism plays a role in the transmission of...Show moreChild abuse can be transmitted from parent to child, which means that the adverse effects of child abuse stay persistent across generations. However, the specific pathways through which the transmission occurs remain unclear. This study aimed to find whether the intergenerational transmission of child abuse is mediated by alcohol misuse and intimate terrorism. It was hypothesized that mothers with a history of child abuse would be more likely to misuse alcohol, experience intimate terrorism and abuse their own child. Participants were 984 Dutch mothers who, within the last three months, had received a report from Veilig Thuis about child abuse, partner violence or child-to-parent violence. Data was collected through different selfreport questionnaires by the mothers. The findings revealed a significant indirect effect through intimate terrorism. However, alcohol misuse was not a significant mediator. These results suggest that intimate terrorism plays a role in the transmission of child abuse over generations. The Netherlands needs to pay more attention to this specific form of partner violence which can help reduce or prevent the cycle of transmitting child abuse through generations. Further research is needed to develop an evidence-based intervention that focusses on intimate terrorism.Show less

Child abuse

Intergenerational transmission

Alcohol misuse

Intimate terrorism

Author

Wit, Camilla de

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Specialisation

Orthopedagogiek

Supervisors

Geel, M. van

ECTS Credits

20

Language

nl