Acceptability of aggression among children who reside with substance-abusing parents: The influence of behavioral dysregulation, exposure to neighborhood violence, and interparental violence

A Within-Family Examination of Interparental Conflict, Cognitive Appraisals, and Adolescent Mood and Well-Being

Interparental conflict (IPC) is a well-established risk factor across child and adolescent development. This study disentangled situational (within-family) and global (between-family) appraisal processes to better map hypothesized processes to adolescents' experiences in the family. This 21-day daily dairy study sampled 151 caregivers and their adolescents (61.5% female). Using multilevel mediation analyses indicated that, on days when IPC was elevated, adolescents experienced more threat and self-blame. In turn, when adolescents experienced more threat appraisals, they experienced diminished positive well-being; whereas days when adolescents felt more self-blame, they experienced increased negative mood and diminished positive well-being. Statistically significant indirect effects were found for threat as a mediator of IPC and positive outcomes. Daily blame appraisals mediated IPC and adolescent angry mood.

Multiple Forms of Early Violent Socialization and the Acceptance of Interpersonal Violence Among Chinese College Students

Early violent socialization has consistently been associated with individuals' attitudes toward interpersonal violence in adulthood. However, how particular types of violent socialization during childhood differently influence individuals' acceptance of interpersonal violence remains unclear. The current study examined the effect of multiple types of violent socialization on acceptance of interpersonal violence among Chinese college students in Hong Kong (N = 794). The findings of hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that verbal advice regarding and witnessed experience with violence during childhood predict the acceptance of violence. In contrast, childhood experience of being a violence victim was not significantly associated with the acceptance of violence. In addition, gender moderates the relationship between verbal advice toward violence and acceptance of violence. Therefore, educational interventions related to the impact of multiple forms of violent socialization on attitudes toward violence that create a safe and stable environment for children may be beneficial for parents, teachers, and practitioners who work closely with children. The results may be also useful in informing colleges, universities, and professional practitioners as they make decisions about social awareness programs for college students to help change their attitudes toward violence.