Citation

Kwako LE, Noll JG, Putnam FW, Trickett PK. Clin. Child Psychol. Psychiatry 2010; 15(3): 407-422.

Affiliation

National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-0935, USA. kwako.laura@gmail.com

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1359104510367590

PMID

20603427

PMCID

PMC3161402

Abstract

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a recognized risk factor for various negative outcomes in adult survivors and their offspring. We used the Dynamic-Maturational Model of attachment theory as a framework for exploring the impact of maternal CSA on children's attachment relationships in the context of a longitudinal sample of adult survivors of CSA and non-abused comparison mothers and their children. Results indicated that children of CSA survivors were more likely to have extreme strategies of attachment than the children of non-abused mothers. However, because both groups were at socioeconomic risk, both were typified by anxious attachment. Explanations for findings and implications for children's development are explored.

Language: en