BACKGROUND: Maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and intimate partner violence (IPV) are recognized risk factors for harsh parenting, yet their independent, additive, and interactive effects in low- and middle-income countries remain underexplored. OBJECTIVE: The present study examined how maternal ACEs and IPV exposure-independently, additively and interactive-are associated with coercive parenting and physical harsh discipline among adolescent mothers in Brazil. Guided by cumulative risk, stress sensitization, and inurement frameworks, we tested independent, additive, and interactive associations between ACEs, IPV, and parenting outcomes. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Participants were 237 mothers aged 14-19 years with children under age five, recruited through Brazil's public primary care network. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used data from the Chance to Grow project, conducted between August 2023 and 2024 in southern Brazil. Validated instruments for assessed outcomes: Conflict Tactics Scale, Parenting and Family Adjustment Scales, and Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scales. Logistic regression models tested independent, additive, and interaction effects, adjusting for sociodemographic covariates. RESULTS: In independent models, higher maternal ACE scores were associated with greater odds of coercive parenting (OR = 1.34; 95% CI = 1.20-1.49) and physical harsh discipline (OR = 1.23; 95% CI = 1.11-1.36). IPV exposure was independently associated with coercive parenting (OR = 2.25; 95% CI = 1.31-3.89) and physical harsh discipline (OR = 2.14; 95% CI = 1.24-3.69). In additive models, ACEs remained significant for both outcomes, while IPV associations were attenuated and nonsignificant. CONCLUSIONS: Trauma-informed parenting interventions addressing early adversity, promoting positive discipline, and supporting maternal mental health are warranted to disrupt intergenerational cycles of violence.
Oliveira et al. (2026) studied this question.