Intergenerational transmission of child abuse and neglect: Real or detection bias?

This 30-year prospective study found that whether childhood abuse appears to be passed down to the next generation depends heavily on who reports it. Parents with documented histories of abuse and neglect were more often reported to child protective services, but did not self-report more physical or sexual abuse than the comparison group. Their children did report more sexual abuse and neglect. The strongest evidence points to an intergenerational risk of neglect and sexual abuse, but the higher rate of CPS reports may partly reflect closer surveillance of these families.