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Victimization Exposure and Psychosocial Functioning Among School-Aged Children: The Role of Moderating and Mediating Variables

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Abstract

This study examined the association between children’s exposure to a range of victimization experiences and their psychosocial functioning, namely trauma symptoms as well as internalizing and externalizing behaviors. We also examined the role of potential moderating (child sex, parental mental health, family functioning) and mediating (inconsistent parenting) variables. Caregivers (N = 138) of 6–12 year olds completed an online questionnaire. Results indicated that greater victimization exposure in children was significantly associated with greater trauma symptoms as well as greater internalizing and externalizing difficulties. Child sex significantly moderated the association between victimization exposure and all three psychosocial outcomes. As victimization exposure increased, both boys and girls were reported to exhibit higher levels of trauma symptoms, internalizing behaviors, and externalizing behaviors. However, the increases across the three outcomes were not as great in boys, compared to girls. Family functioning was also found to be a statistically significant moderator; greater dysfunction exacerbated the positive association between victimization exposure and internalizing as well as externalizing difficulties. Finally, inconsistent parenting partially mediated the association between victimization exposure and all three psychosocial outcomes. These findings highlight the cumulative negative impact of childhood victimization and emphasize the importance of family-level interventions. In addition, the sex-based findings suggest that boys and girls are both impacted by victimization exposure but perhaps to different degrees.

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Author notes

  1. Lyzon Babchishin

    Present address: Ottawa Anxiety and Trauma Clinic, Ottawa, Canada

  2. Szewei Wong

    Present address: University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, 136 Jean-Jacques Lussier, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada

    Elisa Romano, Lyzon Babchishin & Szewei Wong

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  1. Elisa Romano
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  2. Lyzon Babchishin
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Correspondence to Elisa Romano.

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Romano, E., Babchishin, L. & Wong, S. Victimization Exposure and Psychosocial Functioning Among School-Aged Children: The Role of Moderating and Mediating Variables. Journ Child Adol Trauma 9, 329–340 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-016-0106-z

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