An examination of the stress and psychopathology model of the intergenerational transmission of psychological maltreatment

The stress and psychopathology model of the intergenerational transmission of psychological maltreatment was examined. This model postulates that the intergenerational transmission of psychological maltreatment is mediated by the level of current parental psychopathology and that this process is exacerbated by the individual's current level of stress. 184 undergraduate college students experienced a stress manipulation or control condition. They then were asked their anticipated disciplinary responses as well as to rate the acceptability of psychological maltreatment. Past psychological maltreatment and ethnicity, particularly Asian-American ethnicity, were significant predictors of anticipated psychological discipline. Current psychopathology bordered on significance. Post-hoc testing found an interaction between psychopathology and stress. Individuals with low levels of psychopathology anticipated using significantly less psychological discipline when under stress compared to when not experiencing stress. In contrast, subjects with high psychopathology anticipated using an increased amount of psychological discipline when under stress compared to when not experiencing stress. An interaction was also found between psychopathology and past psychological maltreatment. The combination of high past psychological maltreatment and high current psychopathology caused a significant increase in anticipated psychological discipline. Past psychological maltreatment was most predictive of the acceptability of psychological maltreatment. Psychopathology, gender, and Asian-American ethnicity were also significant predictors. Post-hoc testing found an interaction between stress and psychopathology with a similar pattern of results as those found for anticipated discipline. The other hypotheses were not supported by the results. Implications of these findings for the stress and psychopathology model were discussed. It is believed that a more comprehensive model is needed to explain adequately the intergenerational transmission of psychological maltreatment.