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Conduct Disorder Symptoms in pre-School Children Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence: Gender Differences in Risk and Resilience

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Abstract

This study utilized data involving 7743 children (51.6% boys) aged four from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort. Children were cross-categorized into four groups: Resilient, Non-resilient, Vulnerable and Competent. Maternal depression and life events, parenting, attachment, social development and temperament were analysed as dependent variables, and were examined as predictors of group membership. Results showed that resilient boys were less emotional, less active, and more shy and had higher-educated mothers than the non-resilient boys. Resilient girls were less emotional, less active, more shy, less socially developmentally advanced, had more secure attachment to their mothers, and their mothers were better educated and reported more positive parenting strategies than non-resilient girls. Different approaches to intervention may be needed for IPV-exposed preschool boys and girls.

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Acknowledgments

We are extremely grateful to all the families who took part in this study, the midwives for their help in recruiting them, and the whole ALSPAC team, which includes interviewers, computer and laboratory technicians, clerical workers, research scientists, volunteers, managers, receptionists and nurses. The UK Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust (Grant ref.: 102215/2/13/2) and the University of Bristol provide core support for ALSPAC. This publication is the work of the author and Prof. Erica Bowen will serve as guarantor for the contents of this paper.

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  1. Centre for Violence Prevention, University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, Worcester, WR2 6AJ, United Kingdom

    Erica Bowen

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Correspondence to Erica Bowen.

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Bowen, E. Conduct Disorder Symptoms in pre-School Children Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence: Gender Differences in Risk and Resilience. Journ Child Adol Trauma 10, 97–107 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-017-0148-x

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