Posttraumatic Growth and Quality of Parent-Child Interaction in Mothers that Experienced Child Sexual Abuse
General Material Designation
[Thesis]
First Statement of Responsibility
Mercado, Mariafe Ainelle
Subsequent Statement of Responsibility
Shuman, Tara
.PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, ETC
Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.
Alliant International University
Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.
2020
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Specific Material Designation and Extent of Item
102
DISSERTATION (THESIS) NOTE
Dissertation or thesis details and type of degree
Psy.D.
Body granting the degree
Alliant International University
Text preceding or following the note
2020
SUMMARY OR ABSTRACT
Text of Note
Research indicates that a history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) has adverse effects on later parenting (Kim, Trickett, & Putnam, 2010). However, preliminary research studies demonstrate the positive role of posttraumatic growth (PTG), the positive psychological gains after the experience of trauma (Calhoun & Tedeschi, 2004), in improving the quality of parent-child interaction in parents that experienced child abuse (Woodward & Joseph, 2003). Extending this research, this present study examined the effects of PTG and its five domains - Relating to Others, Appreciation of Life, New Possibilities, Personal Strength, and Spiritual Change - on two dimensions of the parent-child interaction: acceptance of the parent-child relationship (Acceptance) and competence in conflict resolution with the child (Conflict Resolution) - in mothers that experienced CSA. Findings demonstrated that PTG significantly predicted Acceptance and Conflict Resolution. Additionally, results indicated that the PTG domains Appreciation of Life and Personal Strength predicted both Acceptance and Conflict Resolution. Furthermore, this study found that psychological treatment significantly predicted Acceptance. Results from this study have important clinical implications for intervention or prevention programming to counter the adverse effects of CSA on parenting. Results also demonstrate the importance of fostering posttraumatic growth in treatment.