Child Psychological Maltreatment and Its Correlated Factors in Chinese Families

A bibliometric and knowledge-map analysis of psychological violence from 2003 to 2022

Background

Psychological violence is a serious global public health and social issue, attracting increasing research. Its adverse effects on individuals and society are significant. Given the negative impacts of psychological violence and the importance of maintaining mental health, we employed a bibliometric analysis of the literature on psychological violence over the past 20 years on a global scale.

Objective

We aimed to elucidate the current research hotspots and development trends in psychological violence using bibliometrics and a visualization analysis, and provide ideas for related research.

Methods

We searched three databases in the Web of Science Core Collection to obtain data from January 1, 2003, to December 31, 2022, and utilized VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and Scimago Graphica software to visualize authors, journals, countries, institutions, and collaboration and keyword networks.

Results

Ultimately, 4,387 publications related to psychological violence were identified; the top three countries for the number of publications were the United States, England, and Canada, in that order; The top three institutions were the University of Toronto, King's College London, and Columbia University. Of 15,681 authors, the average publication rate was 0.28 articles per author, with Rodriguez-Carballeira A from Spain publishing the most articles; The top three disciplinary distributions were psychiatry, family Studies, and clinical psychology; Research hotspots included causes, harms, evaluation strategies, and interventions related to psychological violence.

Conclusion

The increasing number of publications suggests greater interest among researchers in the interconnected domains of psychological violence, with the ongoing research reflecting stability and maturity. The current research focus is on the risk factors, manifestations, and consequences of psychological violence. In the future, potential emerging research trends include exploring measurement methods for psychological violence and identifying mitigation strategies. The global community has developed a well-established foundation for cooperation. However domestic research is lacking, indicating the need for enhancement and increased collaboration among researchers, institutions, and countries.

Psychosocial Impact of Lockdown on Children due to COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Quarantine measures during the COVID-19 lockdown had a negative impact on children's psychology and development. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the psychological impact of quarantine on children due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia and to assess types of reported child maltreatment before and after the pandemic.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey among parents was performed along with a retrospective data review for anonymized data from the National Family Safety Program, Saudi Arabia. 436 children participated in this survey during June-November 2020.

Results

The percentage of fathers with an organic or psychological illness in the children with elevated anxiety levels is 18.5% (p-value = 0.019). The anxiety level of the participants was assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7). Based on the scores, 10.1% had severe anxiety. The depression level of the participants was assessed using Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Based on the scores, 4.4% had severe depression. The anxiety level of the children was assessed using Spence Children's Anxiety Scale - Parent (SCAS-Parent). Based on the overall score, 28.1% of the children had elevated anxiety levels. The anxiety level was elevated in a panic attack and agoraphobia for 36.8% of the kids, in separation anxiety for 26.8%, in physical injury fears for 35.1%, in social phobia for 19%, in obsessive-compulsive for 25.1%, and in generalized anxiety disorder/overanxious for 27.3%.

Conclusion

Quarantine and lockdown during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic have had a negative impact and many adverse effects on the mental and intellectual development of children. These negative outcomes may be addressed via well-planned multilevel interventions.

Intergenerational Continuity of Psychological Violence: Intimate Partner Relationships and Harsh Parenting

OBJECTIVE

This prospective, longitudinal investigation examined psychological violence across generations. We examined how parent psychological violence experienced during adolescence influenced the stability of one's own intimate partner psychological violence perpetration across time and how psychological violence is related to harsh parenting in adulthood.

METHOD

Data came from 193 parents and their adolescent who participated from adolescence through adulthood. Parental psychological violence was assessed in early adolescence. Partner violence was assessed in late adolescence, emerging adulthood, and adulthood. Harsh parenting to their offspring was assessed in adulthood.

RESULTS

Parent psychological violence in early adolescence was associated with one's own intimate partner psychological violence in late adolescence. Partner psychological violence was stable from emerging adulthood to adulthood. Moreover, parental violence was also related to their own harsh parenting in adulthood.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest that children exposed to parental psychological violence during adolescence may have greater difficulty developing acceptable behaviors in their own romantic relationships over time, as well as parenting their own child in adulthood. Findings highlight the importance for clinicians and policy makers to develop and utilize effective educational and preventive interventions designed toward not only adolescent behaviors, but also that of the parent. Understanding how the family environment impacts current and long-term functioning is important in helping stop the cycle of violence across generations.