Exposure to Family Violence and Internalizing and Externalizing Problems Among Spanish Adolescents

Depression and Substance Use as Consequences of Exposure to Family Violence: A Moderation Mediation and Self-Medication Hypothesis Study

Ample evidence exists suggesting that exposure to family violence leads to substance use and this relationship is moderated by gender; however, much is still unknown of the underlying mechanism of this relationship. Thus, the current study first examined whether exposure to family violence was associated with substance use. Then consistent with the self-medication hypothesis, we tested whether depressive symptoms mediated the relations between exposure to family violence and substance use. Finally, we examined the moderating effect of gender on the relationships among exposure to family violence and depressive symptoms/substance use (N = 1,850). Results suggest that exposure to family violence positively associated with substance use. Mediation results revealed that depressive symptoms explained the relationship between exposure to family violence and substance use. Moderation results indicated that males who were exposed to family violence were more likely to endorse depressive symptoms and more likely to use substances while controlling for sibling aggression victimization. This study provides new insight into the internalizing and externalizing symptoms of exposure to family violence, specifically for male adolescents. Implications are discussed.

Comparisons of violence exposure within and across contexts in predicting depression among Chinese children and adolescents

BACKGROUND

Existing research has identified violence exposure as a risk factor for depression among children and adolescents. To date, however, we know little about whether these associations are influenced by the forms (witnessing and victimization) of violence exposure across different contexts (family, school, and community).

OBJECTIVE

The present study thus aimed to compare the effects of two forms of violence exposure across and within three contexts. Sex and age differences were also tested in the above associations.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

Participants (N = 906, 52.4 % boys, T1: M_age = 11.03) were children and adolescents recruited from elementary and junior schools in Zhejiang Province, China.

METHODS

All participants were asked to complete questionnaires about their experiences of various types of violence exposure and depression at two time points with a 12-month interval. SPSS and Mplus were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

Considering the comparison within contexts, witnessing family violence was a more influential predictor than family violence victimization while school violence was the opposite. As for the comparison across contexts, no significant differences were found in the effects of different violence victimization, while the effect of witnessing family violence and community violence were more influential than witnessing school violence. No significant sex differences in the above associations were found. However, community violence victimization was more negatively related to depression among adolescents compared with children.

CONCLUSIONS

The associations between violence exposure and depression are influenced by the forms and contexts of violence as well as age groups.

Epidemiology of Childhood Witnessing Domestic Violence and Exploration of Its Relationships With Affective Lability and Suicide Attempts in Chinese Young Adults

Childhood witnessing domestic violence (CWDV) exerts short- and long-term negative impacts on emotional and behavioral health. The present study investigated the epidemiological features of CWDV, and its negative impact on psychological outcomes in a sample of Chinese college students. The mediating role of emotion regulation strategies on CWDV associations with psychological outcomes and gender differences in these relationships were examined. A total of 3,126 respondents (1,034 males; 2,086 females; 6 missing data in gender) completed the study questionnaire, which included demographic characteristics, CWDV, and suicide attempt history items as well as the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) and Affect Lability Scale-18 (ALS-18). Overall, 43.03% of the respondents reported CWDV, including 44.87% of males and 42.09% of females. Higher frequencies of CWDV were found to be related to the following factors: unstable marital status of parents; not being an only child; being a left-behind child, family financial difficulties, consumption of alcohol in the past year, and being in relatively poor physical condition. Among males, ERQ suppression scores were significantly higher for those men who experienced "often or every day" CWDV than for men who indicated that they did not have any history of CWDV (Bonferroni-corrected p = 0.047). More frequent CWDV was associated with higher ALS-18 scores and increased risk of suicide attempts in males and females (p < 0.05), and emotion regulation (suppression) was found to mediate the association between CWDV and affective lability among males. This study revealed high rates of CWDV, and serious impacts of CWDV on mental health in male and female Chinese college students. In males, but not females, emotion regulation strategy use, use of suppression, was found to act as a mediator in the association of CWDV with affective lability. Our findings suggest that interventions for individuals with CWDV should focus on the emotional regulation, which may help them improve mental health, especially in males.

[Context and dynamics of prenatal care for women with intimate partner violenceContexto e dinámica do Cuidado pré-natal para mulheres que sofrem violencia do parceiro]

Introduction

Women have health needs that vary according to their life course and intimate partner violence.

Objective

To identify the contextual characteristics in which prenatal care is provided to women with intimate partner violence.

Materials and Methods

A qualitative ethnographic study based on participant-focused observation was conducted throughout childbirth preparation course sessions and waiting rooms in five healthcare institutions in Cali, Colombia. Results: The following three dimensions were identified in the care context: (a) envi ronment where care is provided, (b) power relations and (c) care dynamics. Findings suggest a traditional context in prenatal care with a predominance of a biomedical model.

Results

three dimensions were identified regarding the care context: (a) The Environment where the Care is provided, (b) Power Relationships and (c) Dynamics of Care. The results show a traditional context in prenatal care with a predominance of a biomedical model.

Discussion

The findings show the complexity of care in health institutions and a traditional context in prenatal care with a predominance of a biomedical model.

Conclusions

During sessions held between women and healthcare personnel, intimate partner violence was not identified as the relationship was measured by a lack of knowledge of their needs, vertical relationships, power and non-assertive communication. For the adoption of support and accompaniment actions, it is necessary to recognize the importance of healthcare with a gender, differential and intersectional approach. In addition, in favor of women's autonomy and dignity, it is necessary to strengthen the culture of respect and empathy towards users.

Witnessing Intimate Partner Violence Across Contexts: Mental Health, Delinquency, and Dating Violence Outcomes Among Mexican Heritage Youth

Immigrant Mexican American (MA) youth are at greater risk for violence exposure due to risk factors associated with migration-postmigration processes and as they settle into urban U.S. communities marked by crime and poverty. Less is known about the contexts of this exposure. Specifically, what are the ecological contexts in which youth witness intimate partner violence (IPV), how do these experiences differ by immigration generational status, and what is the impact on youth's externalizing and internalizing behaviors? MA adolescents (N = 279; 15-17 years, M = 16.17, SD = 0.81) from the Southwest United States participated in an online survey. Over half of adolescents had witnessed at least one incidence of IPV in the prior 2 weeks, usually involving their peers. Adolescents who had spent more time in the United States were more likely to witness violence and rated it as more severe than more recently immigrated youth. A cross-sectional path model revealed that witnessing IPV was associated with internalizing and externalizing problems. However, the associations between witnessing IPV and dating violence perpetration and victimization were mediated through acceptance of dating violence norms. Each successive generation may be more likely to witness violence across a range of ecological contexts. Witnessing violence may be central to a host of negative outcomes, including deviancy, poor mental health, and dating violence. However, preventive interventions can help youth to challenge violence norms within intimate partnerships as well as to cope with violence in their homes, peer groups, and communities.

Psychological Functioning of Adolescents from Violent Families

Objective. The aim of the study was to determine the association of family violence with the functioning of the family system, psychological functioning and development of specific characteristics of the adolescents who grew up in a violent families.

Methods. The study was carried out on a sample of 308 adolescents, aged 15–18, divided in a FV group of adolescents coming from dysfunctional families (n=68) adolescents who grew up inviolent families and were exposed to family violence, which was reported and processed, and a control group (n=240) adolescents from families in which according to the CPRS-R Questionnaire there was not found any form of violence, alcoholism or any other psychosocial pathology. FACES III Scale and Questionnaire for the examination of psychosocial characteristics of the adolescents and family (Revised CPRS-R) were used for measuring dimensions of family functioning, Cybernetic model of personality dimensions (CON-6) for conative functioning of the adolescents, Теst for reasoning images (TRI) for measuring intellectual development and the Scale of Latent Maturity (SLM) for determining the level of psychological maturity. The data were processed by using linear regression analysis.

Results. Family functioning disorders caused by family violence were significantly and highly associated with psychological functioning of the adolescents: concern about family relationships (β =-.968), need for professional help (β =-.873), cooperation with people (β =.523), orientation towards the future (β =.669), latent maturity (β =.618), psychosomatic reactions (β =-.509), dissociative reactions (β =-.591), excused absence from school (β =.618), unexcused absence from school (β =-.824), memory disorders (β =-.541), night fears (β =−722), running away from home (β =-.569), breaking rules and getting punished at school (β =-.569), conflicts with peers (β =−.460). Conative functioning of the adolescents exposed to a violent family environment showed a pathological form of functioning in dissociative, anxiety reactions and social adaptability.

Conclusion. Exposure of adolescents to a violent family environment was associated with changes in psychological functioning, development of specific personality characteristics and risk of developing internalized and externalized symptoms when it came to socialadaptation, anxiety and dissociative reactions. The mediators between family violence and psychological functioning and development of the adolescents was family cohesion and disorders within the marital dyad.

Sex Differences in the Pathways from Exposure to Parental Fighting to Risky Sexual Activities Among Adolescents in Urban Neighborhoods

OBJECTIVES

Adolescents' exposure to violence between parents acts as a precursor to risky behaviors; however, empirical studies that examined the potential pathways from exposure to violence between parents to risky behaviors are rare. Consequently, the prevention and intervention strategies for risky sexual activities are limited without the identification of malleable mediators.

METHODS

Mediators on the association between adolescent exposure to parental fighting and risky sexual activities are examined, which include internalizing behaviors, running away from home, and affiliation with risky peers. Relationships between these variables are examined for males and females separately. The sample consists of 673 adolescents in a neighborhood located in Chicago's Southside who completed a survey.

RESULTS

Exposure to parental fighting was not directly associated with risky sexual activities for either males or females. However, among females, exposure to parental fighting was significantly and positively related to internalizing behaviors and running away from home, and internalizing behaviors were also positively associated with running away from home. For males, however, only the association between internalizing behaviors and running away from home was found to be significant. Further, the relationship between exposure to parental fighting and risky sexual activities was mediated by running away from home.

CONCLUSIONS

Targeted strategies for prevention are critical for improving sexual health outcomes among adolescents in low-resourced urban neighborhoods.

Pathways From Witnessing Parental Intimate Partner Violence to Involvement in Bullying: Empirically Testing a Proposed Conceptual Framework

We tested a proposed conceptual framework in which we hypothesized that witnessing parental intimate partner violence (witnessing parental IPV) is linked to children's bullying and peer victimization. We also hypothesized that the relationship between witnessing parental IPV and bullying and peer victimization in childhood would be mediated by increased psychological problem behavior, school absences, and problematic peer interactions. We utilized data from the National Survey of Children's Health. We found that witnessing parental IPV was positively related to children's bullying and peer victimization not only directly, but also indirectly through the mediating role of psychological problem behavior, school absences, and problematic peer interactions. Our findings highlight the importance of exploring the mechanisms by which bullying and peer victimization increase in those who have witnessed parental IPV.

From Exposure to Violence between Mother and Her Intimate Partner to Suicidality Experienced by Urban Adolescents in Chicago's Southside

Although the relationship between exposure to intimate partner violence and youths’ psychological and other wellbeing has been widely studied, there is limited research about how youths’ exposure to violence between mother and her intimate partner may be related to youth psychological wellbeing. The study used a sample of urban adolescents in Chicago Southbound to examine whether youths’ exposure to verbal conflict between mother and her intimate partner is related to their suicidality and whether youth depression and aggression may be in between such a linkage. Our findings indicated that one-third of the youth had suicidal thoughts or suicidal/self-hurting attempts. Youths’ exposure to verbal conflict between mother and her intimate partner was associated with their depressive and aggressive symptoms, and depressive symptoms subsequently were linked to suicidality. The findings also showed that youth depressive symptoms and aggressive symptoms were positively correlated, which may influence their associations with suicidality. We concluded that youth exposure to parental intimate partner violence, even comparatively mild forms such as a verbal conflict between mother and her intimate partner, may increase their risk of suicidality by worsening psychological wellbeing. The findings highlight the importance of tackling youth suicidality risks while accounting for their exposure to intimate partner violence including verbal conflicts between parents.

Young witnesses of intimate partner violence: screening and intervention

Intimate partner violence is a public health problem worldwide. Many children witness intimate partner violence at home and are affected by it. Regardless of the degree of exposure, children growing up in violent homes experience negative effects in the form of externalising behaviour and internalising symptoms which call for targeted interventions for children. The aim of the study is to map i) the available methods of detecting child and adolescent witnesses of intimate partner violence and ii) the interventions to support them. Three databases, PubMed, PsychInfo and Social Services Abstracts, were searched for scientific publications spanning over 20 years (1997–2017). This resulted in 2,406 publications of which 15 were finally selected after screening. Analysis of the articles resulted in three categories. The process of detecting children and adolescents who witnessed IPV in their homes varied in the included studies. The children were most commonly identified through their mother or other caregivers. Very few studies were based on children’s own reporting of their experiences, but were rather based on the mothers’ proxy reports. Studies distinguishing between the different forms of violence witnessed by children were few. It was uncommon that children were directly identified or screened for witnessing IPV in the family.