This study explored the relationship between family functioning and parenting beliefs and feelings among women with a history of child sexual abuse (CSA). This study utilized secondary data obtained 2001 from the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect. The sample included 107 women.

Most respondents had a highly functional family; however, one third had a moderately or severely dysfunctional family respectively. The majority of respondents agreed with the use of positive parenting techniques, such as using punishments involving restrictions rather than physical punishments like spanking. A relationship between family functioning and parenting beliefs and feelings was found; as family functioning increased, agreement that children who are given too much love by their parents will grow up to be stubborn and spoiled and that children should always be spanked when they misbehave decreased. Child welfare can use this information to develop culturally sensitive techniques to assist victims of CSA.