Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Protective Factors in Children and Adolescents Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence: An Empirical Research Review

  • Published:
Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The current paper provides an empirical literature review of protective factors for children and adolescents exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV). Twenty-one empirical studies were reviewed for the empirical review. A critique of methodology used in the studies is presented. The role of race, age, and gender on protective factors is explored. Finally, implications for future social work practice, policy, and research with children and adolescents exposed to IPV are addressed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

References marked with an asterisk * indicate studies included in the empirical research review

  • Alvord, M. K., & Grados, J. J. (2005). Enhancing resilience in children: A proactive approach. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 36(3), 238–245.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Becker, K. B., & McCloskey, L. A. (2002). Attention and conduct problems in children exposed to family violence. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 72(1), 83–91.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bolognini, M., Plancherel, B., Bettschart, W., & Halfon, O. (1996). Self-esteem and mental health in early adolescence: Development and gender differences. Journal of Adolescence, 19, 233–245.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brook, J. S., Whiteman, M., Balka, E. B., Win, P. T., & Gursen, M. D. (1998). Drug use among Puerto Ricans: Ethnic identity as a protective factor. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 20, 241–254.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caetano, R., Field, C. A., & Nelson, S. (2003). Association between childhood physical abuse, exposure to parental violence, and alcohol problems in adulthood. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 18(3), 240–257.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • * Carbonell, D. M., Reinherz, H. Z., Giaconia, R. M., Stashwick, C. K., Paradis, A. D., & Beardslee, W. R. (2002). Adolescent protective factors promoting resilience in young adults at risk for depression. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 19(5), 393–412.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carr, J. L., & VanDeusen, K. M. (2002). The relationship between family of origin violence and dating violence in college men. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 17(6), 630–646.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • * Chandy, J. M., Blum, R. W., & Resnick, M. D. (1996). History of sexual abuse and parental alcohol misuse: Risk, outcomes, and protective factors in adolescents. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 13(5), 411–432.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • * Criss, M. M., Pettit, G. S., Bates, J. E., Dodge, K. A., & Lapp, A. L. (2002). Family adversity, positive peer relationships, and children’s externalizing behavior: A longitudinal perspective on risk and resilience. Child Development, 73(4), 1220–1237.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • * Denny, S., Clark, T. C., Fleming, T., & Wall, M. (2004). Emotional resilience: Risk and protective factors for depression among alternative education students in New Zealand. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 74(2), 137–149.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fraser, M. W., Richman, J. M., & Galinsky, M. J. (1999). Risk, protection, and resilience: Toward a conceptual framework for social work practice. Social Work Research, 23(3), 131–144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • * Grossman, F. K., Beinashowitz, J., Anderson, L., Sakurai, M., Finnin, L., & Flaherty, M. (1992). Risk and resilience in young adolescents. Journal of Youth and Adolescents, 21(5), 529–550.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grych, J. H., Jouriles, E. N., Swank, P. R., McDonald, R., & Norwood, W. D. (2000). Patterns of adjustment among children of battered women. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68(1), 84–94.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • * Hagen, K. A., Myers, B. J., & Mackintosh, V. H. (2005). Hope, social support, and behavioral problems in at-risk children. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 75(2), 211–219.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • * Herrenkohl, T. I., Hill, K. G., Chung, I. J., Guo, J., Abbott, R. D., & Hawkins, J. D. (2003). Protective factors against serious violent behavior in adolescence: A prospective study of aggressive children. Social Work Research, 27(3), 179–191.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howard, S., Dryden, J., & Johnson, B. (1999). Childhood resilience: Review and critique of literature. Oxford Review of Education, 25(3), 307–323.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • * Jackson, Y. (2005). Testing the compensatory and immunity models of children’s adaptive behaviors: The role of appraisal. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 75(3), 369–380.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • * Jackson, Y., Sifers, S. K., Warren, J. S., & Velasquez, D. (2003). Family protective factors and behavioral outcome: The role of appraisal in family life events. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 11(2), 103–111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins, E. J., & Bell, C. C. (1997). Exposure and response to community violence among children and adolescents. In J. D. Osofsky (Ed.), Children in a violent society (pp. 9–31). New York: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerig, P. K. (1998). Gender and appraisals as mediators of adjustment in children exposed to interparental violence. Journal of Family Violence, 13(4), 345–363.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • * Kliewer, W., et al. (2004). Violence exposure and adjustment in inner-city youth: Child and caregiver emotion regulation skill, caregiver-child relationship quality, and neighborhood cohesion as protective factors. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 33(3), 477–487.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • * Kogan, S. M., Luo, Z., Murry, V. M., & Brody, G. H. (2005). Risk and protective factors for substance use among African American high school dropouts. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 19(4), 382–391.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • * Lee, M. Y. (2001). Marital violence: Impact on children’s emotional experiences, emotional regulation and behaviors in a post-divorce/separation situation. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 18(2), 137–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lehmann, P. (1997). The development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a sample of child witnesses to mother assault. Journal of Family Violence, 12(3), 241–257.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • * Lengua, L. J. (2002). The contribution of emotionality and self-regulation to the understanding of children’s response to multiple risk. Child Development, 73(1), 144–161.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Levendosky, A. A., Hutch-Bocks, A. C., Semel, M. A., & Shapiro, D. L. (2002). Trauma symptoms in preschool-age children exposed to domestic violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 17(2), 150–164.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luster, T., Small, S. A., & Lower, R. (2002). The correlates of abuse and witnessing abuse among adolescents. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 17(12), 1323–1340.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • * Luthar, S. S. (1991). Vulnerability and resilience: A study of high-risk adolescents. Child Development, 62, 600–616.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • * Margolin, S. (2006). African American youths with internalizing difficulties: Relation to social support and activity involvement. Children and Schools, 28(3), 135–144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • * McCabe, K. M., Clark, R., & Barnett, D. (1999). Family protective factors among urban African American youth. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 28(2), 137–150.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McCloskey, L. A., & Lichter, E. L. (2003). The contribution of marital violence to adolescent aggression across different relationships. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 18(4), 390–412.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Minnard, C. V. (2002). A strong building: Foundation of protective factors in schools. Children & Schools, 24(4), 233–246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Office of Violence Against Women. (2004). Violence Against Women Act of 1994. Retrieved March 2, 2013, from U.S. Department of Justice Web Site: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/vawo/laws/vawa.

  • * O’Keefe, M. (1998). Factors mediating the link between witnessing interparental violence and dating violence. Journal of Family Violence, 13(1), 39–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research & evaluation methods (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • * Pottinger, A. M. (2005). Children’s experience of loss by parental migration in inner-city Jamaica. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 75(4), 485–496.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • * Prelow, H. M., & Loukas, A. (2003). The role of resource, protective, and risk factors on academic achievement-related outcomes of economically disadvantaged Latino youth. Journal of Community Psychology, 31(5), 513–529.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quatman, T., & Watson, C. M. (2001). Gender differences in adolescent self-esteem: An exploration of domains. The Journal of Genetic Psychology, 162(1), 93–117.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rak, C. F., & Patterson, L. E. (1996). Promoting resilience in at-risk children. Journal of Counseling and Development, 74, 368–373.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ruben, A., & Babbie, E. (2001). Research Methods for Social Work (4th ed.). Belmont: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sandler, I. N., Miller, P., Short, J., & Wolchik, S. A. (1989). Social support as a protective factor for children in stress. In D. Belle (Ed.), Children’s Social Networks and Social Supports (pp. 277–307). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • * Scheingart, J. S., Molnar, J., Klein, T. P., Lowe, C. B., & Hartmann, A. H. (1995). Homelessness and child functioning in the context of risk and protective factors moderating child outcomes. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 24(3), 320–331.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steele, W., & Malchiodi, C. A. (2012). Trauma-informed practices with children and adolescents. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Umana-Taylor, A. J., & Updegraff, K. A. (2007). Latino adolescents’ mental health: Exploring the interrelations among discrimination, ethnic identity, cultural orientation, self-esteem, and depressive symptoms. Journal of Adolescence, 30, 549–567.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Whitbeck, L. B., Hoyt, D. R., Stubben, J. D., & LaFromboise, T. (2001). Traditional culture and academic success among American Indian children in the upper Midwest. Journal of American Indian Education, 40(2), 48–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitfield, C. L., Anda, R. F., Dube, S. R., & Felitti, V. J. (2003). Violent childhood experiences and the risk of intimate partner violence in adults: Assessment in a large health maintenance organization. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 18(2), 166–185.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, L. M. (2003). Understanding child abuse and violence against women: A life course perspective. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 18(4), 441–451.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • * Williams, N. R., Lindsey, E. W., Kurtz, P. D., & Jarvis, S. (2001). From trauma to resiliency: Lessons from former runaway and homeless youth. Journal of Youth Studies, 4(2), 233–253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yexley, M., Bowowsky, I., & Ireland, M. (2002). Correlation between different experiences of intrafamilial physical violence and violent adolescent behavior. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 17(7), 707–720.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Widener University-Center for Social Work Education, Chester, PA, USA

    Linda E. Benavides

Authors
  1. Linda E. Benavides
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Linda E. Benavides.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Benavides, L.E. Protective Factors in Children and Adolescents Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence: An Empirical Research Review. Child Adolesc Soc Work J 32, 93–107 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-014-0339-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-014-0339-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation