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Hammad MA, Al-Otaibi MN, Awed HS. Child maltreatment among deaf and hard-of-hearing adolescent students: associations with depression and anxiety. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1287741. [PMID: 38414873 PMCID: PMC10897975 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1287741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Child abuse and neglect have several short- and long-term consequences for the victim. Though Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing children are at higher risk of being maltreated as compared to hearing children, little research in Saudi Arabia has focused on this population. To determine the prevalence of child maltreatment and to examine its association with depression and anxiety among a sample of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing students in Saudi Arabia, recruited from secondary schools in southern Saudi Arabia. Methods The sample included 186 Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing students aged 14-17 years (M = 15.7 years; SD = 3.41 years). Data were collected using the Child Abuse Self-Report Scale, Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire. Bivariate and Linear regression analyses were conducted using SPSS 20. Results About 47.3% of the students were exposed severe to very severe child maltreatment. The severity of maltreatment varied based on parents' educational and income level, number of children in the family, the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing student's gender, and parents' hearing status. Linear regression analysis indicated that child maltreatment was a significant predictor of depression and anxiety in this sample. Conclusion Considering the socio-demographic factors influencing the prevalence of maltreatment in the present study, it seems important to work with parents of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing children to improve their skills in rearing a child with special needs. Addressing the social stigma and social barriers experienced by DHH individuals through familial, institutional, and community interventions may be a first step toward long-term prevention of maltreatment among DHH children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Ahmed Hammad
- Department of Special Education, College of Education, Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mansour Nayef Al-Otaibi
- Department of Education and Psychology, College of Education, Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia
| | - Huda Shaaban Awed
- Department of Special Education, College of Education, Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia
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Naudin C, Gatti V, Kounou KB, Bagnéken CO, Ntjam MC, Clément MÈ, Brodard F. Physically Violent Parental Practices: A Cross-Cultural Study in Cameroon, Switzerland, and Togo. JOURNAL OF CHILD & ADOLESCENT TRAUMA 2023; 16:959-971. [PMID: 38045833 PMCID: PMC10689656 DOI: 10.1007/s40653-023-00564-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Violence against children and adolescents is a widespread problem. However, most studies conducted in this field has been carried out in Western countries and studies are needed in non-Western countries, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, where rates of child physical violence are high. The present study aimed firstly to document the different forms of physical violence and attitudes toward corporal punishment (CP) across Cameroon, Switzerland, and Togo. The second objective aimed, on the one hand, to understand the influence of cultural context, childhood physical abuse, and parental attitudes on physically violent parental practices in these three different cultural contexts. On the other, this study aimed to investigate the mediating role of childhood physical abuse and parental attitudes on the effect of cultural contexts on parental practices. Five hundred and forty-seven parents from Togo, Cameroon, and Switzerland filled out questionnaires concerning violent parental practices (ICAST-P), childhood physical abuse (CTQ-SF), and parental attitudes in favor of CP. Firstly, results highlighted some cultural differences regarding parental attitudes and practices. Secondly, the hierarchical regression showed that physical violence could be partially predicted by the cultural context, childhood abuse, and attitudes in favor of CP. Finally, childhood abuse and parental attitudes mediated the link between the cultural context and parental practices. This study underscores the importance of considering the cultural context when examining parental practices. Moreover, these results provide a better understanding of these types of parental practices in less studied contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Naudin
- Family and Development Research Center (FADO), Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Veronica Gatti
- Family and Development Research Center (FADO), Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Kossi B. Kounou
- Research Team in Psychology, Orientation and Development, University of Lomé, Lomé, Togo
| | | | | | - Marie-Ève Clément
- Department of Psychoeducation and Psychology, University of Québec in Outaouais, Saint-Jérome, Canada
| | - Fabrice Brodard
- Family and Development Research Center (FADO), Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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Sudo M, Won YQ, Chau WWY, Meaney MJ, Kee MZL, Chen H, Eriksson JG, Yap F, Rifkin-Graboi A, Tiemeier H, Setoh P. Physical discipline as a normative childhood experience in Singapore. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health 2023; 17:81. [PMID: 37386570 PMCID: PMC10311744 DOI: 10.1186/s13034-023-00632-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The cultural normativeness theory posits that specific parenting behaviors can be interpreted as displays of appropriate parenting in contexts where they are deemed normative. Previous studies suggest high acceptance of physical discipline in Singapore, where strict parenting could be interpreted as care for the child. However, there is a lack of studies on the local prevalence and implications of physical discipline. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Singaporean children experiencing parental physical discipline, longitudinal changes in this prevalence, and how exposure to physical discipline relates to children's evaluation of their parents' parenting. METHODS Participants were 710 children with parental reports of physical discipline at one or more assessments at ages 4.5, 6, 9, and 11 years in the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes birth cohort study. Parental reports of physical discipline were obtained using the Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire or the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire across the four assessments. Child reports of their parents' care and control were obtained using the Parental Bonding Instrument for Children at the age 9 assessment. Prevalence was specified as being exposed to at least one physical discipline at any frequency. A generalized linear mixed model was performed to examine whether children's age predicted their exposure to physical discipline. Linear regression analyses were conducted to investigate whether children's exposure to physical discipline predicted their evaluation of their parents' parenting. RESULTS The prevalence of children experiencing at least one physical discipline was above 80% at all ages. There was a decrease in this prevalence from age 4.5 to 11 years (B = - 0.14, SE = 0.01, OR = 0.87, p < 0.001). The more frequent the paternal physical discipline children were exposed to, the more likely they were to report lower levels of care (B = - 1.74, SE = 0.66, p = 0.03) and higher levels of denial of psychological autonomy by fathers (B = 1.05, SE = 0.45, p = 0.04). Maternal physical discipline was not significantly associated with children's evaluation of their mothers' parenting (ps ≥ 0.53). CONCLUSIONS Physical discipline was a common experience among our Singaporean sample, consistent with the notion that strict parenting could be regarded as a form of care. However, exposure to physical discipline did not translate to children reporting their parents as caring, with paternal physical discipline being negatively associated with children's evaluations of paternal care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mioko Sudo
- Psychology Division, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 48 Nanyang Ave, Singapore, 639818, Singapore
| | - Ying Qing Won
- Psychology Division, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 48 Nanyang Ave, Singapore, 639818, Singapore
| | - Winnie W Y Chau
- Department of Psychology, National University of Singapore, 9 Arts Link, Singapore, 117570, Singapore
| | - Michael J Meaney
- Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), 30 Medical Drive, Brenner Centre for Molecular Medicine, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Singapore, 117609, Singapore
- Sackler Program for Epigenetics & Psychobiology, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, 6875 Boulevard LaSalle, Montréal, QC, H4H 1R3, Canada
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, 6875 Boulevard LaSalle, Montréal, QC, H4H 1R3, Canada
| | - Michelle Z L Kee
- Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), 30 Medical Drive, Brenner Centre for Molecular Medicine, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Singapore, 117609, Singapore
| | - Helen Chen
- Department of Psychological Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore, 229899, Singapore
- Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Rd, Singapore, 169857, Singapore
| | - Johan Gunnar Eriksson
- Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), 30 Medical Drive, Brenner Centre for Molecular Medicine, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Singapore, 117609, Singapore
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Human Potential Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 10 Medical Dr, Singapore, 117597, Singapore
- Human Potential Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 10 Medical Dr, Singapore, 117597, Singapore
- Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Helsinki, Tukholmankatu 8 B, 00290, Helsinki, Finland
- Public Health Research Program, Folkhälsan Research Center, Topeliuksenkatu 20, 00250, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Fabian Yap
- Department of Paediatrics, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore, 229899, Singapore
- Academic Medicine Department, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Rd, Singapore, 169857, Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, 59 Nanyang Dr, Singapore, 636921, Singapore
| | - Anne Rifkin-Graboi
- Centre for Research in Child Development, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Nanyang Walk, Singapore, 637616, Singapore
| | - Henning Tiemeier
- Department of Social and Behavioral Science, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Peipei Setoh
- Psychology Division, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 48 Nanyang Ave, Singapore, 639818, Singapore.
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Bott S, Ruiz-Celis AP, Mendoza JA, Guedes A. Correlates of co-occurring physical child punishment and physical intimate partner violence in Colombia, Mexico and Peru. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:2195. [PMCID: PMC9702951 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14453-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Violent discipline of children and intimate partner violence (IPV) against women are global public health and human rights problems. To address calls for more evidence on intersections, this study aimed to expand knowledge about correlates of physical child punishment, physical IPV against women and their co-occurrence (both) in the same household.
Methods
Using national, population-based survey datasets from Colombia, Mexico and Peru, multinomial logistic regressions examined correlates of three mutually exclusive patterns of violence in the household: physical child punishment (only), physical IPV ever (only) and co-occurrence (both), each compared with no violence, after adjusting for other factors. Logistic regression was used to analyse odds ratios of physical child punishment in households affected by IPV past year and before past year compared with never, after adjusting for other factors.
Results
In all countries, adjusted odds ratios (aOR) of co-occurrence were significantly higher among women with lower education, more than one child, a child aged 2–5, a partner who tried to socially isolate her, and a history of childhood violence (caregiver violence and/or IPV exposure). They were significantly lower among women who reported collaborative partnerships (joint decision-making and/or shared chores). Co-occurrence was also significantly correlated with a history of child marriage/early motherhood in Colombia and Mexico, partner’s excess drinking in Mexico and Peru, agreement that physical child punishment was necessary in Peru and partner’s history of childhood violence in Colombia and Mexico. Evidence of shared risk factors was strongest for social isolation and caregiver histories of childhood violence and of shared protective factors for collaborative partnership dynamics. In all countries, associations between physical child punishment and physical IPV remained significant after adjusting for other factors, suggesting that correlations could not be explained by shared risk factors alone.
Conclusions
These findings are consistent with several theories relevant for violence prevention: 1) more collaborative, gender equitable partnerships may protect both children and women from violence; 2) violence between intimate partners may ‘spill over’ into violence against children (as correlations could not be explained by shared risk factors alone); and 3) there appears to be strong evidence of intergenerational transmission of violence.
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Thulin EJ, Heinze JE, Zimmerman MA. Evaluating Community Factors Associated With Individually Held Intimate Partner Violence Beliefs Across 51 Countries. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2022; 37:NP20065-NP20091. [PMID: 34779296 DOI: 10.1177/08862605211050104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Globally, one in three women will experience intimate partner violence (IPV) within her lifetime. IPV attitudes are highly predictive of IPV. While a wealth of literature on risk factors related to IPV exist, an overarching critique in the field is the lack of studies examining risk factors across the socioecological framework. Using data from multiple administrative and individual surveys, this study fills a gap in the literature by evaluating the effect of meso-influences on physical IPV attitudes (i.e., permissibility of a man beating his wife) while accounting for known micro- and macro-risk factors in 64,466 individuals across 51 low-, middle- and high-income countries. Mixed-effects modeling was used to evaluate factors and identify comparative contributions of each factor representing the socio-ecological levels. We tested five multivariate logistic models. The final model indicated that greater perceived neighborhood disorder and less perceived neighborhood security were associated with physical IPV attitudes, while individual endorsement of interpersonal violence, belief in corporal punishment of children, holding greater patriarchal beliefs, being male, being separated from a significant partner, reporting greater household hunger and nationally lower levels of female literacy were associated with beliefs that IPV is acceptable. Overall, the findings of this study support that IPV is a complex behavior, influenced by factors across socio-ecological domains. However, data on neighborhood structural factors (i.e., exosystem) would help unpack the mechanisms between macro-, meso- and micro-level factors and may be important for protecting women from violence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elyse J Thulin
- Department of Health Behavior & Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Justin E Heinze
- Department of Health Behavior & Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Marc A Zimmerman
- Department of Health Behavior & Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Combined Program in Education and Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Baniamin HM. Variations in the Acceptance of Parental Corporal Punishment of Children: What Matters? JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2022; 37:NP18006-NP18031. [PMID: 34330181 DOI: 10.1177/08862605211035856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This article tries to identify people's degree of acceptance of parental corporal punishment (CP) of children and the nature of the association of different variables, particularly the value variables with such acceptance. For this purpose, the study uses data from the World Values Survey 6 (2010-2014), which is a large survey of attitudes based on representative samples from 60 different countries (around 1,200 respondents from each). This study tested five hypotheses and two subhypotheses on individuals' acceptance of parental CP: effects of emancipative values (aspiration to autonomy and freedom), nonmasculine values, religiousness, people's dissatisfaction with life in general, and more specifically, dissatisfaction with financial and health conditions and national bans on CP. The findings show that the higher level presence of emancipative values and nonmasculine values are associated with lower support for CP. The study also finds that a number of sociodemographic variables affect the endorsement of CP; on the one hand, people with higher age and lower social classes (subjective) tend to express less support for CP, whereas on the other, people with no partners (divorced/separated/widowed/single) and men tend to express higher support for the use of parental CP. The identification of these associations can help us to develop more effective policies to address the problem of CP.
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Acar-Erdol T, Bostancioglu A, Gözütok FD. Gender equality perceptions of preservice teachers: are they ready to teach it? SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY OF EDUCATION 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11218-022-09712-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Lansford JE. Annual Research Review: Cross-cultural similarities and differences in parenting. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2022; 63:466-479. [PMID: 34763373 PMCID: PMC8940605 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
This article reviews contemporary research on cross-cultural similarities and differences in parenting. The article begins by providing a definition of culture and how both parenting and culture can change over historical time. The article then presents some classic theoretical frameworks for understanding culture and parenting before considering why parenting may be similar across cultures and why parenting may be different across cultures. The article next turns to a review of cross-cultural similarities and differences in several aspects of parenting, including physical caregiving, cognitive stimulation, warmth and acceptance, control and monitoring, and discipline. Cultural normativeness and beliefs on the legitimacy of parental authority are then considered as potential moderators that contribute to cross-cultural similarities and differences in relations between parenting and child outcomes. The article then considers implications for parenting interventions and laws and policies related to parenting. Finally, the article suggests directions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer E. Lansford
- Duke University, Center for Child and Family Policy, Box 90545, Durham, NC 27708, USA
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Do HP, Baker PRA, Van Vo T, Murray A, Murray L, Valdebenito S, Eisner M, Tran BX, Dunne MP. Intergenerational effects of violence on women's perinatal wellbeing and infant health outcomes: evidence from a birth cohort study in Central Vietnam. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2021; 21:648. [PMID: 34556095 PMCID: PMC8461881 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-021-04097-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Girls exposed to violence have a high risk of being victimized as adults and are more likely than non-abused women to have children who are treated violently. This intergenerational transmission may be especially serious when women suffer violence during pregnancy and early motherhood, as it impairs maternal wellbeing and infant health and development. This study examined the intergenerational effects of being exposed to childhood maltreatment (CM) and prenatal intimate partner violence (p-IPV) on perinatal mental distress and birth outcomes in central Vietnam. METHODS A birth cohort study in Hue City, Vietnam was conducted with 150 women in the third trimester of pregnancy (Wave 1) and 3 months after childbirth (Wave 2). Using multivariable logistic regression models, augmented inverse-probability-weighted estimators and structural equation modelling (SEM), we analyzed a theoretical model by evaluating adjusted risk differences and pathways between CM, p-IPV and subsequent perinatal adversity and indicators of infant health problems. RESULTS One in two pregnant women experienced at least one form of CM (55.03%) and one in ten pregnant women experienced both CM and p-IPV (10.67%). Mothers who experienced p-IPV or witnessed IPV as a child were approximately twice as likely to experience poor mental health during pregnancy [ARR 1.94, 95% CI (1.20-3.15)]. Infants had a two-fold higher risk of adverse birth outcomes (low birth weight, preterm birth, admission to neonatal intensive care) [ARR 2.45 95% CI (1.42, 4.25)] if their mothers experienced any form of p-IPV, with greater risk if their mothers were exposed to both CM and p-IPV [ARR 3.45 95% CI (1.40, 8.53)]. Notably, significant pathways to p-IPV were found via adverse childhood experience (ACE) events (β = 0.13), neighborhood disorder (β = 0.14) and partner support (β = - 1.3). CONCLUSION These results emphasize the detrimental and prolonged nature of the effect of violence during childhood and pregnancy. Exposure to childhood maltreatment and violence during pregnancy increases the risk of maternal mental health difficulties and adverse birth outcomes. Antenatal care systems need to be responsive to women's previous experiences of violence and maternal mental health. The significant protective role of partner support and social support should also be considered when designing tailored interventions to address violence during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huyen Phuc Do
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Faculty of Health, School of Public Health and Social Work, Brisbane, Australia
- Institute of Health Economics and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Philip R. A. Baker
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Faculty of Health, School of Public Health and Social Work, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Thang Van Vo
- Institute for Community Health Research, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue, Vietnam
- Faculty of Public Health, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue, Vietnam
| | - Aja Murray
- Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Linda Murray
- College of Health Sciences, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Sara Valdebenito
- Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Manuel Eisner
- Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Bach Xuan Tran
- Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA
| | - Michael P. Dunne
- Institute for Community Health Research, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue, Vietnam
- Australian Centre for Health Law Research, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia
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Lansford JE, Rothenberg WA. Commentary: Spanking and Externalizing Problems: Examining Within‐Subject Associations. Child Dev 2021; 92:2603-2609. [DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Jeong J, Bhatia A, Skeen S, Adhia A. From fathers to peers: Association between paternal violence victimization and peer violence perpetration among youth in Malawi, Nigeria, and Zambia. Soc Sci Med 2021; 278:113943. [PMID: 33894568 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Interpersonal violence against children and youth, including parental violence and peer violence, are major global health concerns. However, the majority of the parental violence and peer violence literature examines each separately from one another. In this study, we specifically investigate the role of fathers and whether paternal violence victimization is associated with peer violence perpetration, above and beyond maternal violence victimization. We used nationally-representative data from three sub-Saharan African country surveys of the Violence Against Children Surveys, which comprised a pooled sample of 8184 youth aged 13-24 years in Malawi (conducted in 2013), Nigeria (2014), and Zambia (2014). We used multivariable logistic regression models to estimate the association between paternal violence victimization and peer violence perpetration, controlling for maternal violence victimization, witnessing violence, and other covariates. We also tested a structural equation model to determine whether the direct association between paternal violence victimization and peer violence perpetration was mediated through youth mental distress or alcohol use, controlling for other violence exposures and covariates. In the pooled sample, 22.8% of youth reported paternal violence victimization, and 18.8% of youth reported peer violence perpetration in their lifetime. Youth who experienced paternal violence had a greater odds of perpetrating peer violence (OR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.50-2.02), compared with youth who did not experience paternal violence and after controlling for maternal violence victimization and other covariates. Structural equation model results revealed that approximately a quarter of the total association between paternal violence victimization and peer violence perpetration was mediated by youth mental distress and alcohol use. Our study underscores the role of fathers in the context of parental violence against youth and highlights the need for multicomponent and two-generation violence prevention interventions that address paternal violence and support youth psychosocial wellbeing to prevent cycles of violence perpetration against youth in sub-Saharan Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Jeong
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Amiya Bhatia
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Sarah Skeen
- Institute for Life Course Health Research, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Avanti Adhia
- Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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