Risk and protective factors for the intergenerational transmission of child maltreatment in South Korea: a secondary analysis of data from the Family with Children’s Life Experience Survey

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify ecological risk and protective factors associated with membership in latent classes characterized by heterogeneous associations between parental adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the intergenerational transmission of child maltreatment (ITCM). METHODS: This secondary analysis used data from the 2017 Family with Children's Life Experience Survey. Participants were parents who had a spouse and children younger than 18 years. Guided by Belsky's ecological model, the covariates were categorized as parent-, family/household-, and community-level contextual factors. Latent class regression was used to identify classes with differing associations between parental ACEs and child maltreatment, and multinomial logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with class membership. RESULTS: Three classes were identified: the "None-ACE-Association" class (58.5%), the "Partial-ACE-Association" class (23.3%), and the "Comprehensive-ACE-Association" class (18.2%). Factors across multiple ecological domains differentiated class membership. Acceptance of corporal punishment significantly distinguished the None-ACE-Association class from the Partial-ACE-Association class. In comparisons involving the Comprehensive-ACE-Association class, membership was significantly associated with several parent- and family/household-level factors, including depressive symptoms, parenting stress, partner violence/control, and family relationship quality. Significant associations were also observed for the number of children, the age group of the youngest child, and residential area. CONCLUSION: Distinct latent class profiles characterized by heterogeneous associations between parental ACEs and child maltreatment support the need for tailored, risk-stratified prevention strategies. Combining the assessment of parental ACEs with the assessment of modifiable factors could improve early identification and inform nursing and community-based interventions intended to interrupt the ITCM.