Sheridan M J
School of Social Work, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23284-2027, USA.
Child Abuse Negl. 1995 May;19(5):519-30. doi: 10.1016/0145-2134(95)00012-w.
Although the link between substance abuse and child maltreatment has been relatively well established, there is a general recognition that this is not a simple cause-effect relationship. The current study explored the relationships among substance abuse, family functioning, and abuse/neglect in a sample of incarcerated substance abusers. Data were gathered on the earlier life experiences of 81 men and women serving sentences in two maximum security prisons, including assessments of their parents' substance abuse problems; levels of family competence within their families-of-origin; their exposure, as children and adults, to physical, emotional, and sexual abuse and physical/emotional neglect; and their own levels of substance abuse. Results showed generally high percentages of parental substance abuse and abuse/neglect, and relatively low levels of family competence. Correlational analyses revealed significant direct and indirect relationships among parental substance abuse, family dynamics, and exposure to both child and adult maltreatment. These four variables were also significantly associated with respondents' own substance abuse in later life, suggesting the potential for continuation of these patterns into successive generations. An intergenerational model of these family and personal functioning variables is presented and implications for service delivery with correctional clients is discussed.
尽管药物滥用与虐待儿童之间的联系已相对明确，但人们普遍认识到这并非简单的因果关系。本研究在一群被监禁的药物滥用者样本中，探讨了药物滥用、家庭功能以及虐待/忽视之间的关系。收集了在两所高度设防监狱服刑的81名男性和女性的早年生活经历数据，包括对其父母药物滥用问题的评估；原生家庭的家庭能力水平；他们在儿童期和成年期遭受身体、情感和性虐待以及身体/情感忽视的情况；以及他们自身的药物滥用水平。结果显示，父母药物滥用和虐待/忽视的比例普遍较高，而家庭能力水平相对较低。相关分析揭示了父母药物滥用、家庭动态以及儿童期和成年期遭受虐待之间存在显著的直接和间接关系。这四个变量也与受访者晚年自身的药物滥用显著相关，表明这些模式有可能延续到下一代。本文提出了这些家庭和个人功能变量的代际模型，并讨论了对惩教对象服务提供的影响。
