@article{ref1,
title="Victimization exposure and psychosocial functioning among school-aged children: the role of moderating and mediating variables",
journal="Journal of child and adolescent trauma",
year="2016",
author="Romano, Elisa and Babchishin, Lyzon and Wong, Szewei",
volume="9",
number="4",
pages="329-340",
abstract="This study examined the association between children's exposure to a range of victimization experiences and their psychosocial functioning, namely trauma symptoms as well as internalizing and externalizing behaviors. We also examined the role of potential moderating (child sex, parental mental health, family functioning) and mediating (inconsistent parenting) variables. Caregivers (N = 138) of 6-12 year olds completed an online questionnaire. <br><br>RESULTS indicated that greater victimization exposure in children was significantly associated with greater trauma symptoms as well as greater internalizing and externalizing difficulties. Child sex significantly moderated the association between victimization exposure and all three psychosocial outcomes. As victimization exposure increased, both boys and girls were reported to exhibit higher levels of trauma symptoms, internalizing behaviors, and externalizing behaviors. However, the increases across the three outcomes were not as great in boys, compared to girls. Family functioning was also found to be a statistically significant moderator; greater dysfunction exacerbated the positive association between victimization exposure and internalizing as well as externalizing difficulties. Finally, inconsistent parenting partially mediated the association between victimization exposure and all three psychosocial outcomes. These findings highlight the cumulative negative impact of childhood victimization and emphasize the importance of family-level interventions. In addition, the sex-based findings suggest that boys and girls are both impacted by victimization exposure but perhaps to different degrees.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1936-1521",
doi="10.1007/s40653-016-0106-z",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40653-016-0106-z"
}