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Abstract
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VioLit summary:
OBJECTIVE:
The goal of this research by Davis and Carlson was to examine the effects of both witnessing and experiencing family violence on boys and girls.
METHODOLOGY:
This was a quasi-experimental, cross-sectional study of 66 children who were residing at domestic violence shelters in upstate New York. No control group was used. Of the group of mothers who were told about the study and agreed to participate, very little attrition occurred once the interview appointment was set up. If a mother had more than one child she was allowed to select which one would participate. A well-normed instrument, the Child Behavior Checklist (CBC) was given to each participant. The CBC measures social competence, behavioral problems, aggression, depression, and somatic complaints. The group demographics were as follows: 52% of the children were aged 4 and 5, and 48% were ages 6-11; 48% were female, 52% male; 35% were of low socioeconomic status. The CBC was normed on a non-clinical sample. The clinical and non-clinical samples differed in that only 7% of the non-clinical sample were of lower socioeconomic status. All results were significant at .05 or .10 levels, depending on the category.
FINDINGS/DISCUSSION:
Children who both witnessed and experienced violence had significantly lower social competence and internalizing defense (fearful, inhibited, and overcontrolled) scores than those who had only witnessed abuse. Thirty percent of the subjects were in the clinical (problem) range for social competence. Of the girls, 47% of the school age compared to only 7% of the pre-school age subjects had social incompetencies. For boys, there was no difference between age groups. Half (53%) of the school-age children who had been involved with Child Protective Services (indicator of having experienced abuse) were within the clinical range compared to only 14% of school-age children who had no involvement with Child Protective Services. No difference was found for pre-schoolers who had or had not received Child Protective Services. Behavior problems also varied by age and gender. Overall, 70% of the subjects were in the clinical range. During pre-school, 60% of the girls had behavior problems. This percentage increased to 88% by elementary school-age. For boys, this trend was reversed with 74% having problems at the pre-school age compared to 53% later. Opposite to the effects on social competence, more pre-school age children (86%) who had involvement with Child Protective Services had greater behavioral problems than those without the services (47%). The exact opposite effect occurred for school-age children who received the services (65% compared to 79%) and had behavioral problems.
AUTHORS' RECOMMEDATIONS:
The results of this study strongly suggest that children of both genders need to be included in future research. The response to having witnessed and experienced abuse is very different between boys and girls. Further research can help explain why boys are more adversely affected during their pre-school years and girls during their elementary school years. (CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado)
KW - New York
KW - Domestic Violence Effects
KW - Domestic Violence Victim
KW - Early Childhood
KW - Middle Childhood
KW - Late Childhood
KW - Child Witness
KW - Child Victim
KW - Witnessing Spouse Abuse
KW - Witnessing Violence Effects
KW - Spouse Abuse Effects
KW - Child Abuse Effects
KW - Child Abuse Victim
KW - Child Physical Abuse Effects
KW - Child Physical Abuse Victim
KW - Psychological Victimization Effects
KW - Child Behavior
KW - Behavior Causes
KW - Child Problem Behavior
KW - Gender Differences
KW - Male Behavior
KW - Female Behavior
KW - Violence Against Women
KW - Partner Violence
KW - Interparental Violence
KW - Children of Battered Women |