Weaving Culture with Consequence: Immigrant Status and Child Maltreatment Outcomes in Early Adulthood

Citation

Kuper, J. L. (2022). Weaving Culture with Consequence: Immigrant Status and Child Maltreatment Outcomes in Early Adulthood.

Abstract

Literature on the cycle of violence suggests that those who are maltreated as children are more likely to exhibit violent behavior in early adulthood. Nonetheless, research has also indicated heterogeneity in life course outcomes after maltreatment. Given the growing literature on immigrant resilience, it may be that culturally diverse individuals do not experience child maltreatment in the same way as non-immigrants, decreasing their likelihood of maladaptive behavior. The present study borrows from literature on victimization, cumulative disadvantage, and the immigrant paradox to examine the behavioral consequences of child maltreatment for native- and foreign-born persons in early adulthood. Using data from Waves I and III of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, multivariate regression models are specified to determine whether child maltreatment is related to violent behavior in early adulthood across immigrant statuses. The results indicate generality in the cycle of violence, where child maltreatment was related to violent behavior regardless of immigrant status. The idea that different cultures experience child maltreatment differently is not evidenced here, where maltreatment was found to be equally harmful, regardless of immigrant status. Supplemental analyses and implications for theory and future research will be discussed.

Reference Type

Conference paper

Book Title

American Society of Criminology

Author(s)

Kuper, J. L.

Year Published

2022

City of Publication

Atlanta, GA

Reference ID

9934