Author(s)

Izumi Sawada^1*, Reiko Kishi², Tomoko Maruyama¹

¹Sapporo Medical University, School of Health Sciences, Sapporo, Hokkaido.
²Hokkaido University, Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Sapporo, Hokkaido.

Background: Harsh parenting practices during childhood have long-term negative effects on children’s mental health. A focus of nursing care on women’s resilience should be implemented because mothers who have experienced violence tend to be harsh parents. Aim: This study investigated the association between mothers’ violent experiences and harsh parenting (HP) and examined the effects of a sense of coherence (SOC) on this association, assuming that SOC can be an indicator of resilience. Method: In this prospective cohort study of 487 mothers, data were collected on SOC and history of intimate partner violence (IPV) at 1 year after childbirth and HP of their child at 18 months after childbirth. Results: In the 277 responses analyzed by multiple logistic regression analysis, a strong SOC moderating the effect on HP was observed for current IPV and witnessing IPV in childhood, but not for experiencing childhood corporal punishment. Discussion: SOC is a useful indicator of resilience in female victims of violence and is effective in regulating stress spillover. However, its effects are weakened by the learned acquisition aspect of violence. Conclusion: In nursing, providing support to alleviate stress and relearn parenting based on an assessment of the mother’s history of violence and SOC as the resilience indicator is important in curbing HP.

Harsh Parenting, Sense of Coherence, Intimate Partner Violence, Prospective Studies

Sawada, I. , Kishi, R. and Maruyama, T. (2021) Can Sense of Coherence Indicate Resilience and Mitigate the Cycle of Violence in Parenting?. Open Journal of Nursing, 11, 728-741. doi: 10.4236/ojn.2021.119062.