Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence, Psychopathology, and Functional Impairment in Children and Adolescents: Moderator Effect of Sex and Age

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Family Violence Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This work examines the moderator effect of sex and age on the relationship between different types of exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) and child psychopathology and functional impairment. One hundred and sixty-six Spanish children aged 4 –17 years exposed to intimate partner violence were assessed using a diagnostic interview and other instruments for the measurement of psychopathology and functional impairment. Participants were classified in three groups according to the degree of exposure: witness (N = 77), involved (N = 63) and victim (N = 26). According to mothers’ self-reports and mother-child combined information, boy victims of IPV showed more mood disorders than involved or witness boys. There were no other moderator effects of either sex or age. The effect of exposure to intimate partner violence among children was not dependent, in general, on the child’s sex or age, and this has important implications for the assessment, treatment, and prevention of children’s exposure to IPV.

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

  • Abad, J., Forns, M., Amador, J. A., & Martorell, B. (2000). Fiabilidad y validez del youth self report en una muestra de adolescentes [Reliability and validity of the youth self report in a sample of adolescents]. Psicothema, 12, 49–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Achenbach, T. M., & Rescorla, L. A. (2000). Manual for the ASEBA preschool-age forms & profiles. Burlington: University of Vermont, Research Center for Children, Youth & Families.

    Google Scholar 

  • Achenbach, T. M., & Rescorla, L. A. (2001). Manual for the ASEBA school-age forms & profiles. Burlington: University of Vermont, Research Center for Children, Youth & Families.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bayarri, E., Ezpeleta, L., Granero, R., de la Osa, N., & Domènech, J. M. (2011). Degree of exposure to domestic violence, psychopathology and functional impairment in children and adolescents. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 26, 1215–1231.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter, G. L., & Stacks, A. M. (2009). Developmental effects of exposure to intimate partner violence in early childhood: a review of the literature. Children and Youth Services Review, 31, 831–839.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doménech, J. M. (2007). SPSS Macro !BONFE. Bonferroni procedures for multiple significance test (V2007.02.19). [Computer software]. Bellaterra: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Available from: http://www.metodo.uab.cat/macros.htm.

  • Evans, S. E., Davies, C., & DiLillo, D. (2008). A meta-analysis of child and adolescent outcomes. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 13, 131–140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ezpeleta, L., de la Osa, N., Júdez, J., Doménech, J. M., Navarro, J. B., & Losilla, J. M. (1997). Diagnostic agreement between clinician and the diagnostic interview for children and adolescents—DICA-R in a Spanish outpatient sample. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 38, 431–440.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ezpeleta, L., Granero, R., de la Osa, N., Doménech, J. M., & Bonillo, A. (2006). Assessment of functional impairment in Spanish children. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 55, 130–143.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fletcher, J. (2010). The effects of intimate partner violence on health in young adulthood in the United States. Social Science & Medicine, 70, 130–135.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gershoff, E. T. (2002). Corporal punishment by parents and associated child behaviors and experiences: a meta-analytic and theoretical review. Psychological Bulletin, 128, 539–579.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Graham-Bermann, S. A., & Perkins, S. (2010). Effects of early exposure and lifetime exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) on child adjustment. Violence and Victims, 25, 427–439.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Graham-Bermann, S. A., Howell, K. H., Lilly, M., & DeVoe, E. (2011). Mediators and moderators of change in adjustment following intervention for children exposed to intimate partner violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 26, 1815–1833.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Harper, F. W., Brown, A. M., Arias, I., & Brody, G. (2006). Corporal punishment and kids: how do parent support and gender influence child adjustment? Journal of Family Violence, 21, 197–207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hodges, K. (1999). PECFAS Self-training manual and blank scoring form. Ann Arbor: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hodges, K., & Wong, M. (1996). Psychometric characteristics of a multidimensional measure to assess impairment: The Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 5, 445–446.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holden, G. (2003). Children exposed to domestic violence and child abuse: terminology and taxonomy. Clinical Child and Family Review, 6, 151–160.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hollingshead, A. B. (1975). Four factor index of social status. Department of Sociology: Yale University. Unpublished working paper.

  • Holt, S., Buckley, H., & Whelan, S. (2008). The impact of exposure to domestic violence on children and young people: a review of the literature. Child Abuse & Neglect, 32, 797–810.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hox, J. J. (2002). Multilevel analysis, techniques and applications. Mahwah: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hudson, W. W., & McIntosh, S. R. (1981). The assessment of spouse abuse: two quantifiable dimensions. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 43, 883–885.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, V. K., & Lieberman, A. F. (2007). Variations in behaviour problems of preschoolers exposed to domestic violence: the role of mothers’ attunement to children’s emotional experiences. Journal of Family Violence, 22, 297–308.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kitzmann, K. M., Gaylord, N. K., Holt, A. R., & Kenny, E. D. (2003). Child witness to domestic violence: a meta-analytic review. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 71, 339–352.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Litrownik, A. J., Newton, R., Hunter, W. A., English, D., & Everson, M. D. (2003). Exposure to family violence in young at-risk children: a longitudinal look at the effects of victimization and witnessed physical and psychological aggression. Journal of Family Violence, 18, 59–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marks, C. R., Glaser, B. A., & Glass, J. B. (2001). Effects of witnessing severe marital discord on children’s social competence and behavioral problems. The Family Journal, 9, 94–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martinez-Torteya, C., Bogat, A. G., von Eye, A., & Levendosky, A. A. (2009). Resilience among children exposed to domestic violence: the role of risk and protective factors. Child Development, 80, 562–577.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McDonald, R., Jouriles, E. N., Tart, C. D., & Minze, L. C. (2009). Children’s adjustment problems in families characterized by men’s severe violence toward women: does other family violence matter? Child Abuse & Neglect, 33, 94–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moylan, C. A., Herrenkohl, T. I., Sousa, C., Tajima, E. A., Herrenkohl, R. C., & Russo, M. J. (2010). The effects of child abuse and exposure to domestic violence on adolescent internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. Journal of Family Violence, 25, 53–63.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Observatorio de salud de la mujer. (2005). Adaptación española de un instrumento de diagnóstico y otro de cribado para detectar la violencia contra la mujer en la pareja desde el ámbito sanitario. [Spanish adaptation of a diagnostic instrument and a screening instrument to detect the intimate partner violence against women within the healthcare field] Retrieved April 7, 2010, from http://www.msc.es/organicacion/sns/planCalidadSNS/pdf/equidad/genero_vg_02.pdf.

  • Owen, A. E., Mitchell, M. D., Paranjape, A., & Hargrove, G. L. (2008). Perceived social support as a mediator of the link between intimate partner conflict and child adjustment. Journal of Family Violence, 23, 221–230.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reich, W. (2000). Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents (DICA). Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 39, 59–66.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, M. W., Wallace, J., Hill, T. F., Weist, M. D., & Nabors, L. A. (2001). The relationship between gender, depression and self-esteem in children who have witnessed domestic violence. Child Abuse & Neglect, 25, 1201–1206.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sardinero, E., Pedreira, J. L., & Muñiz, J. (1997). El cuestionario CBCL de Achenbach: adaptación española y aplicaciones clínico-epidemiológicas [Achenbach’s CBCL questionnaire: Spanish adaptation and clinical-epidemiological applications]. Clínica y Salud, 8, 447–480.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sternberg, K. J., Baradaran, L. P., Abbot, C. B., Lamb, M. E., & Guterman, E. (2006a). Type of violence, age, and gender differences in the effects of family violence on children’s behavior problems: a mega-analysis. Developmental Review, 26, 89–112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sternberg, K. J., Lamb, M. E., Guterman, E., & Abbot, C. B. (2006b). Effects of early and later family violence on children’s behaviour problems and depression: a longitudinal, multi-informant perspective. Child Abuse & Neglect, 20, 283–306.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tager, I. B. (1998). Outcomes in cohort studies. Epidemiologic Reviews, 20, 15–28.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • UED. (2005). Schedule for the Assessment of Intimate Partner Violence Exposure in Children (SAIPVEC). Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Unpublished document.

  • Wolfe, D. A., Crooks, C. V., Lee, V., McIntyre-Smith, A., & Jaffe, P. G. (2003). The effects of children’s exposure to domestic violence: a meta-analysis and critique. Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology Review, 6, 171–187.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ybarra, G. J., Wilkens, S. L., & Lieberman, A. F. (2007). The influence of domestic violence on preschooler behavior and functioning. Journal of Family Violence, 22, 33–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grant SEJ2005-01786 from the Ministry of Science and Technology and by grant 467-02-1/07 from the Research Training Program of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. We wish to thank all the families who participated in the study and the institutions which contributed to it.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Epidemiology and Diagnosis in Developmental Psychology, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Edifici B, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain

    Eduard Bayarri & Lourdes Ezpeleta

  2. Unit of Epidemiology and Diagnosis in Developmental Psychology, Department of Psychobiology and Methodology of Health Sciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain

    Roser Granero

Authors
  1. Eduard Bayarri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lourdes Ezpeleta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Roser Granero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eduard Bayarri.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bayarri, E., Ezpeleta, L. & Granero, R. Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence, Psychopathology, and Functional Impairment in Children and Adolescents: Moderator Effect of Sex and Age. J Fam Viol 26, 535–543 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-011-9390-4

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-011-9390-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation