Nonabusive mothers of sexually abused children: The role of rumination in maternal outcomes

This study of 125 mothers focused on maternal emotional and behavioral outcomes subsequent to discovery of the sexual abuse of their children. Documenting rates of emotional distress comparable to psychiatric patients in these mothers, it argues mothers should be treated as secondary victims.; Predictors of maternal outcomes were: abuse severity (relationship of mother to offender, presence of penetration, force, threats), maternal history of childhood or adult abuse experiences, levels of support, life stressors (major life events and daily hassles), and rumination. Outcomes measured included emotional state, mother/child relationship change since discovery, insecure parenting style, authoritarian parenting style, alcohol/drug use, and externalization of anger. Rumination was the only predictor correlated with every outcome. Abuse severity, maternal history of adult abuse, income, ethnicity, and education lacked significant relationships with maternal outcomes.; Data analysis included using regression of significant correlates with and without rumination. Rumination was tested as a mediator variable between predictor and outcome variables where appropriate. Alcohol/drug use was predicted by rumination and personal support. The relationships between a history of childhood abuse and life stressors, and the outcome of externalizing anger were fully mediated by rumination. A maternal history of child abuse and life stressors predicted a negative mother/child relationship change after abuse disclosure. Rumination partially mediated the relationship between life stressors and relationship change and fully mediated the relationship between history of child abuse and relationship change. Emotional distress was predicted by a mother's past child abuse, life stressors, and lack of professional support. The effects of a maternal history of child abuse and level of life stressors on emotional distress were fully mediated by rumination. Insecure parenting style was predicted by a maternal history of child abuse, lack of professional support and life stressors. Rumination partially mediated the relationship between maternal history of child abuse and insecure parenting. Rumination fully mediated the relationship between life stressors and insecure parenting.; Rumination is a central component for understanding maternal outcomes in the post-discovery phase of sexual abuse cases. It is recommended that rumination be routinely assessed both for research and treatment evaluation purposes.