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Single Types of Family Violence Victimization and Externalizing Behaviors Among Children and Adolescents

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Abstract

Prior research has provided substantial evidence that child maltreatment and exposure to physical intimate partner violence (IPV) are associated with increased externalizing behavior problems among children and adolescents. However, little is known about the effects of exposure to psychological IPV and exposure to the physical abuse of a sibling. Using a total sample (N = 2,572) and subsample (n = 441) of children ages 3–18 years old, the purpose of this study was to assess whether cumulative types of family violence lead to higher mean externalizing behavior scores and to examine the effects of single types of indirect and direct family violence on children’s mean externalizing behavior scores. Results confirmed that children who experienced any type of family violence victimization had higher mean externalizing behavior scores compared to children with no history of family violence; however, few differences in externalizing behavior scores were found as the number of family violence types increased. Children who experienced indirect types of family violence (e.g., exposure to the physical abuse of a sibling) had higher externalizing behavior scores than children who experienced direct maltreatment (e.g., child physical abuse). Findings from this study suggest that researchers and service providers should adopt a broader conceptualization of family violence victimization and increase the amount of services provided to children who are indirectly victimized.

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Notes

  1. Another original objective of this study was to examine externalizing behavior scores among children who experienced two or more types of family violence using specific combinations (e.g., child physical abuse and exposure to physical IPV). Because some cell sizes were too small to adequately represent children who experienced combinations involving two or more types of family violence, this plan was not able to be fulfilled.

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Acknowledgment

This research was supported by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01 HD39148 and K01 HD41703-01). Administrative data linkages were developed by the Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago, and survey data were collected by the Metro Chicago Information Center (MCIC).

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  1. School of Social Work, University of Iowa, 308 North Hall, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA

    Lynette M. Renner

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Renner, L.M. Single Types of Family Violence Victimization and Externalizing Behaviors Among Children and Adolescents. J Fam Viol 27, 177–186 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-012-9421-9

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