Witnessing and experiencing domestic violence: a descriptive study of adolescents

Association Between Unmet Needs in Health Care and Social Services and Exposure to Violence Among Parents

OBJECTIVE

Existing research has shown that parental exposure to violence has negative consequences on health outcomes, but the effect of such exposure on unmet health care and social service need is unknown. This study aims to investigate the association between unmet health care and social services and parental violence exposure among parents with children.

STUDY DESIGN

This study used the data of 6289 parents aged 18-60 years who had at least one child under 18 years living in the same household. Parental violence exposure was measured. Unmet child and adult health care and social service need was operationalized through questions on the services needed, those that had not been received, and those that were considered inadequate.

RESULTS

Parents who experienced any kind of violence had more unmet service need. There were more women among parents with violence experience (65.4%) than those with no violence experience (51.9%). Violence experience increased the odds of unmet need for general adult healthcare services (OR 2.02, CI 1.64-2.57), maternity and child health clinics (OR 2.52, CI 2.00-3.18), family guidance clinics and home help (OR 2.38, CI 1.60-3.54), mental health or child welfare services (OR 2.05, CI 1.52-2.75), and school health care (OR 1.99, 1.50-2.65). After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, the associations between exposure to violence experience and unmet needs for healthcare and social services remained statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Violence in close relationships profoundly impacts health and well-being. By addressing unmet health care needs and supporting parents, we can break the cycle of violence and promote better mental health outcomes. Preventive policies and early interventions are essential to mitigate the consequences of violence in families.

Prevalence of co-occurring severe depression and psychotic symptoms in college students and its relationship with childhood maltreatment

BACKGROUND

It has been demonstrated that childhood maltreatment (CM) is associated with an increased risk of depression and psychotic symptoms. However, there is still a lack of studies on the prevalence of co-occurring severe depression and psychotic symptoms (CSDPS) and the association between CM and CSDPS among college students.

OBJECTIVE

We aim to investigate the prevalence and demographic distribution of CSDPS among Chinese college students and to examine its relationship with CM.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

A total of 7351 college students aged 18 and above completed the survey. Finally, 6854 valid questionnaires were included for further analysis.

METHODS

The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and the item for witnessing domestic violence were used to assess the CM. The Prodromal Questionnaire-16 and the depression subscale of the Depression Anxiety and Stress-21 scale were used to assess psychotic symptoms and depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

The prevalence of CSDPS was 1.47 % among the college students. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that emotional abuse and emotional neglect were associated with an increased risk of CSDPS (all p < 0.05). The risk of CSDPS was dramatically increased for individuals who had experienced ≥3 types of CM (OR = 22.929, p < 0.001), as compared to those who had experienced 1-2 types of CM (OR = 4.452, p < 0.001) and those without the experience of CM.

CONCLUSION

CM was found to be associated with an increased risk of CSDPS among the college students. Notably, experiencing more types of CM was also associated with a higher risk of CSDPS.

Witnessing Intimate Partner Violence as a Child and Associated Consequences

Intimate partner violence (IPV) continues to be a global problem. The increasing international research, focussing on children who witness IPV between their parents, indicates that these circumstances might influence children in different ways. Despite these efforts, little evidence stems from Germany. Using data from a German school student survey from 2017 and 2019 (N = 21,382), this paper aims to examine the consequences of witnessing IPV. The present paper takes a closer look at children's violent behaviour, attitudes and quality of life while controlling for other potential influences (e.g. physical and psychological child abuse). Results indicate that IPV has a significant negative effect on children's quality of life, in particular on children's sense of security at home and children's life satisfaction. No other effects were significant. In discussing these complex dynamics, the results of the present study highlight the importance of considering children who witness IPV as direct victims. A home with personal threats cannot provide emotional and physical security. Coping with this absence of a secure base at home may lead to the neglect of important developmental tasks during that time, which can have possible far-reaching implications on different areas of children's lives (e.g. social competence). Further research examining the severity and duration of witnessing IPV within the context of a longitudinal design is recommended.

Childhood trauma in children at familial high risk of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder: A longitudinal study. The Danish High Risk and Resilience Study - VIA 7 and VIA 11

OBJECTIVES

Childhood trauma increases the risk of developing mental illness as does being born to parents with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. We aimed to compare prevalence of lifetime childhood trauma among 11-year-old children at familial high risk of schizophrenia (FHR-SZ) or bipolar disorder (FHR-BP) compared with population-based controls (PBCs).

DESIGN

The study is a longitudinal, prospective cohort study of children at FHR-SZ, FHR-BP, and PBCs.

METHODS

A cohort of 512 children at FHR-SZ (N = 199), FHR-BP (N = 118), and PBCs (N = 195) were examined at baseline (mean age 7.8, SD 0.2) and 451 children at FHR-SZ (N = 172), FHR-BP (N = 104), and PBCs (N = 175) were examined at four-year follow-up (mean age 11.9, SD 0.2, retention rate 87.3%). Childhood trauma was measured with a semi-structured interview.

RESULTS

Children at FHR-BP had an elevated risk of exposure to any lifetime trauma (age 0-11 years) compared with PBCs (OR 2.082, 95%CI 1.223-3.545, p = .007) measured with binary logistic regression. One-way ANOVA revealed that both FHR-groups had a higher lifetime prevalence of exposure to a greater number of types of trauma compared with PBCs (FHR-SZ: observed mean: 1.53, 95%CI 1.29-1.77; FHR-BP: observed mean: 1.56, 95%CI 1.26-1.85; PBCs: observed mean: 0.99, 95%CI 0.82-1.17; p < .001). Binary logistic regression showed that the lifetime risk of exposure to interpersonal trauma (age 0-11 years) was elevated for both FHR-groups (FHR-SZ: OR 3.773, 95%CI 2.122-6.710, p < .001; FHR-BP: OR 3.602, 95%CI 1.913-6.783, p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Children at FHR-SZ and FHR-BP are at increased risk for being exposed to childhood trauma compared with PBCs. This study underscores the need for early detection, support, and prevention of childhood trauma in children at FHR-SZ and FHR-BP.

Sibling Violence and Psychological Adjustment: The Role of Maladaptive Coping and Maternal Authoritativeness

This study examined the phenomenon of sibling violence in Singapore. The underlying mechanisms through which maternal authoritativeness and maladaptive coping influenced psychological adjustment following sibling violence were also investigated. Questionnaires were administered to 287 female and 128 male Singaporean college students between the ages of 18 to 27. Results showed that lifetime and past-year prevalence estimates of sibling violence in college students in Singapore were 89.9% and 62.0%, respectively. Lifetime psychological sibling violence involvement and past-year sibling violence involvement (both physical and psychological) were significantly related to maladaptive coping and overall psychological adjustment; lifetime sibling violence involvement was significantly related to maternal authoritativeness, anxiety, and depression only. Maladaptive coping was found to be a significant mediator between past-year physical and psychological sibling violence involvement and two measures of psychological adjustment, anxiety and depression. Maternal authoritativeness functioned as a moderator only for the relationship between past-year psychological sibling violence exposure and psychological adjustment. At low but not high levels of maternal authoritativeness, past-year psychological violence involvement was significantly related to higher levels of anxiety and depression, and lower levels of self-esteem. These findings show that sibling violence is a pervasive problem in Asian countries as well, such as in Singapore. There is a need to educate both the public and the relevant authorities so that steps can be taken to protect those who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing such violence. Through elucidating the role of maternal authoritativeness and maladaptive coping, the present study also suggests new avenues for interventions to reduce the adverse effects of sibling violence. Limitations and future directions are also discussed.

Exposure to parent assault on a sibling as a childhood adversity

BACKGROUND

Children's exposure to parental violence against another parent has been widely studied as an adverse childhood experience and source of childhood trauma. Exposure to parental violence against a sibling could be equally as traumatizing, but the literature on this exposure is sparse, by comparison. We examined the frequency of exposure to parental assault on a sibling (EPAS) and its demographic distributions. We also investigated the links between EPAS and symptoms of distress.

METHOD

From three combined surveys of the National Survey on Children's Exposure to Violence, based on telephone interviews with parents, and in the case of those 10-17 years old, adolescents, we examined children living with a juvenile sibling (N = 7, 029; 49% female).

RESULTS

Lifetime EPAS was 3.7%, and sibling assault was more common by fathers (70%) than by mothers (30%). Exposure was greatest for boys and adolescents, highest for those whose parents had some college education, and for those living with other non-parental adults, single parents, and stepfamilies. Rates did not differ by ethnicity. Most exposed youth felt afraid (83%), and fear was greater when witnessing fathers than mothers assaulting a sibling. Controlling for child maltreatment and exposure to interparental violence, those exposed to EPAS showed higher current levels of mental distress (anger, depression, and anxiety; F (10, 6146) = 140.44, p = .001; R² = 0.19).

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical work and parent education programs should address the occurrence of EPAS and the adverse association between EPAS and mental health to reduce its potential negative impact.

"It burns her more than it burns for me": The sibling subsystem in the context of child physical abuse as portrayed by children during forensic interviews

BACKGROUND

The sibling subsystem is a central and potentially protective factor for children. Nevertheless, in the context of child abuse, it remains surprisingly understudied.

OBJECTIVE

The current study was designed to examine how children referred to a forensic interview following suspected physical abuse experienced and perceived the sibling subsystem.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

The sample included 60 forensic interviews with children, aged 4 to 14. Each child had at least one sibling and referred to this sibling in the context of the abuse they experienced.

METHODS

Thematic analysis was carried out on the narratives provided by the children. Several steps were taken to ensure the trustworthiness of the study, with four criteria: credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability.

RESULTS

The main theme identified was physical abuse as a familial routine. This abusive routine was sometimes perceived as normal and sometimes traumatic, with descriptions of fear and physical pain. The children addressed the various figures in this abusive routine. When these horrific daily experiences were elaborated on, the children often captured the sibling subsystem as a source of security, comfort and protection. Moreover, the children's language often communicated the siblings' bond, referring to "we" and "us." Within a few narratives, a split between the siblings was identified, which appeared to be a strategy of self-protection by going against their siblings.

CONCLUSION

The current findings join the recent accumulating evidence with respect to the centrality of the sibling subsystem in the experiences and consequences of child abuse. It is imperative to advance practitioners' knowledge and interventions to better adapt to the central role of the sibling subsystem in the context of child abuse.

Self-Reported Lifetime Violence Exposure and Self-Compassion Associated With Satisfaction of Life in Historically Black College and University Students

In the United States, approximately 25% of minors have witnessed a violent act, specifically physical assault. African Americans from under-served backgrounds are more likely than other racial and ethnic groups to be exposed to traumatic events. However, there is scant literature examining violence exposure, SC, and life satisfaction collectively, specifically in an African American college sample. The current study sought to determine the associations among violence exposure, SC components, and life satisfaction in an African American college sample. The current sample was comprised of 356 participants (80% female) with a mean age of 20.23 (SD = 1.70). Eighty-eight participants (25%) reported being exposed to violence in their lifetime. Employing logistic regression, we determined violence exposed individuals were less likely to report high satisfaction of life than their non-exposed counterparts (OR = 0.58, 95% CIs = 0.33, 1.00). Individuals with high level of self-kindness were approximately two times more likely to have higher satisfaction of life (OR = 2.48; CI = 1.52, 4.05) compared to their low level self-kindness counterparts and in the presence of demographic covariates. These findings may educate and increase awareness of the impacts of traumatic events. This education could lead to the implementation of interventions to build upon overall well-being in order increase life satisfaction in college students.

[Systematic review on bullying and family: an analysis based on bioecological systems]

OBJECTIVE

Analyze the relationships between family context and involvement in school bullying.

METHODS

The following databases were searched: Web of Science, PsycoInfo, Pub-Med, Lilacs and SciELO virtual library, using the terms bullying, family and parents. A total of 61 papers met the eligibility criteria. The corpus was analyzed through the Bioecological Development Framework.

RESULTS

The experiences of students experiencing situations of bullying are multifaceted and are related to the family context. Elements from the microsystem, such as violence in the family, parental practices, environment and type of family arrangements, were the elements more frequently explored and related to bullying, though the relationships of parents with the children's friends, the parents' education and socioeconomic conditions, along with the exo, meso and macro systems were also related to bullying.

CONCLUSION

The review contributes to the literature by broadening the approach to this phenomenon that affects the health and development of children and adolescents.

Childhood Exposure to Partner Violence as a Moderator of Current Partner Violence and Negative Parenting

This study examined the interactive effect of mothers' exposure to caregiver intimate partner violence (IPV) during childhood and the amount of violence experienced with a current partner on negative parenting practices. Mothers (N = 119) were recruited from community sites serving individuals experiencing IPV. Findings indicated that the following childhood IPV exposure variables moderated the association between current IPV severity and negative parenting practices: total types of IPV witnessed (B = 0.01, t = 2.65, p < .01), witnessing sexual IPV (B = 0.02, t = 2.16, p < .05), and witnessing psychological IPV (B = 0.03, t = 2.79, p < .01). Results highlight the intergenerational effect of violence and the importance of addressing trauma across the family system.

Empowering young people who experienced domestic violence and abuse: The development of a group therapy intervention

This article describes the development of a group-based therapeutic intervention for young people (YP) who have lived with domestic violence and abuse. The intervention was informed by interviews with 107 YP, focused on their experiences of coping, resilience and agency. The intervention draws on resources from systemic, creative and narrative approaches to group work, and aims to facilitate YP's expression of distress in a way that recognizes that it is embodied, contextual and relational. The intervention also explores YP's existing strategies for coping and maintaining a sense of agency, and works to harness, enhance and further develop those skills. We report on the pilot of this intervention, and its development and application across four European countries (the United Kingdom, Greece, Italy and Spain). We outline the goals, strengths and limitations of this group intervention, as well as the main challenges, hindrances and ethical dilemmas experienced by the research and intervention team. Implications for therapeutic practice and training are addressed.

Beyond "Witnessing": Children's Experiences of Coercive Control in Domestic Violence and Abuse

Children's experiences and voices are underrepresented in academic literature and professional practice around domestic violence and abuse. The project "Understanding Agency and Resistance Strategies" (UNARS) addresses this absence, through direct engagement with children. We present an analysis from interviews with 21 children in the United Kingdom (12 girls and 9 boys, aged 8-18 years), about their experiences of domestic violence and abuse, and their responses to this violence. These interviews were analyzed using interpretive interactionism. Three themes from this analysis are presented: (a) "Children's experiences of abusive control," which explores children's awareness of controlling behavior by the adult perpetrator, their experience of that control, and its impact on them; (b) "Constraint," which explores how children experience the constraint associated with coercive control in situations of domestic violence; and (c) "Children as agents," which explores children's strategies for managing controlling behavior in their home and in family relationships. The article argues that, in situations where violence and abuse occur between adult intimate partners, children are significantly affected, and can be reasonably described as victims of abusive control. Recognizing children as direct victims of domestic violence and abuse would produce significant changes in the way professionals respond to them, by (a) recognizing children's experience of the impact of domestic violence and abuse; (b) recognizing children's agency, undermining the perception of them as passive "witnesses" or "collateral damage" in adult abusive encounters; and (c) strengthening professional responses to them as direct victims, not as passive witnesses to violence.

Repercussões da Conjugalidade em Sintomas Internalizantes e Externalizantes em Filhos Adolescentes

Resumo A conjugalidade dos cuidadores reverbera no desenvolvimento dos filhos, entretanto, especificidades nessa relação ainda necessitam estudos nacionais. Investigou-se a percepção de adolescentes sobre o relacionamento conjugal de seus cuidadores e quais dimensões da conjugalidade repercutem em sintomas internalizantes e externalizantes dos mesmos. Realizou-se uma pesquisa quantitativa e explicativa. 115 adolescentes responderam ao Familiograma, FBQ, CTS2 e YSR. Verificou-se correlação positiva e significativa entre percepção de conflito e violência conjugal com os sintomas, bem como correlação negativa e significativa de afetividade e aliança parental com sintomas. Violência psicológica conjugal, cometida pela mãe, foi preditora de sintomas internalizantes e externalizantes dos filhos e a aliança parental foi preditora de sintomas externalizantes. Ressalta-se a necessidade de atuação preventiva em núcleos familiares com violência.

The need for control, safety and trust in healthcare: A qualitative study among adolescents and young adults exposed to family violence

OBJECTIVE

Adolescents and young adults (AYA) exposed to family violence are in need of professional healthcare. However, only one-third of them seek professional help.

METHODS

This study investigates healthcare needs of twelve AYA exposed to family violence. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews using purposive sampling to reach diversity. Open thematic coding was used to identify the most important themes.

RESULTS

Participants experienced emotional problems, distrusted others and felt unsafe as an important consequence of their exposure to family violence. All participants expressed a need for help, but as help involved informing others, they considered it unsafe. Trust, safety and control regarding healthcare interventions emerged as vital needs. The anonymity of the Internet was considered as offering safeguards in seeking and receiving help.

CONCLUSION

Trust, safety and control regarding healthcare interventions emerged as vital needs for AYA exposed to family violence. The great importance of being in control of healthcare interventions has not been reported earlier. A personal bond can lower the need for control.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

To comply with the three basic needs, healthcare providers should grant AYA as much control as possible while still monitoring patient safety. The Internet can be an important resource for offering low-threshold professional and peer support.

Saúde do escolar: uma revisão integrativa sobre família e bullying

Resumo O “bullying” é um problema de saúde pública e, nesta revisão, objetivou-se avaliar a relação entre o contexto familiar e a ocorrência do fenômeno. Sua contribuição original é a abordagem ampliada sobre esse tipo de violência. Utilizou-se a estratégia SPIDER na construção do estudo que foi guiado pela questão norteadora: qual o papel da família no desenvolvimento, manutenção e prevenção do “bullying”? Foram consultadas as bases PsycInfo e Lilacs, e a biblioteca virtual SciELO, a partir dos cruzamentos 1. “bullying and Family” e 2. “bullying and parents”, e seus correlatos em português e espanhol. A qualidade metodológica dos estudos foi avaliada segundo critérios de nível de evidência. Foram incluídos 27 artigos, publicados entre 2009 e 2013, nos idiomas inglês, espanhol e português, com prevalência de evidências entre forte e moderada. Nos estudos, o delineamento predominante foi o transversal e a maioria não indicou o referencial teórico adotado. Aspectos qualitativos do contexto familiar, características sociodemográficas e experiências de violência em casa foram associados com o envolvimento de escolares em situações de “bullying”. Revelou-se que o “bullying” requer intervenções intersetoriais e são estimuladas investigações com foco não apenas nas características individuais dos estudantes, mas também nos contextos.

The family health, functioning, social support and child maltreatment risk of families expecting a baby

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To describe the family health, functioning, social support and child maltreatment risk and associations between them in families expecting a baby.

BACKGROUND

Finland was one of the first countries in banning corporal punishment against children over 30 years ago. Despite of this, studies have shown that parents physically abuse their children. In addition, professionals struggle in intervention of this phenomenon. Abusive parents should be recognised and helped before actual violent behaviour.

DESIGN

A follow-up case-control study, with a supportive intervention in the case group (families with a heightened risk) in maternity and child welfare clinics. The baseline results of families are described here.

METHODS

Child maltreatment risk in families expecting a baby was measured by Child Abuse Potential Inventory. The health and functioning was measured by Family Health, Functioning and Social Support Scale. Data included 380 families.

RESULTS

A total of 78 families had increased risk for child maltreatment. Heightened risk was associated with partners' age, mothers' education, partners' father's mental health problems, mothers' worry about partners' drinking and mothers' difficulties in talking about the family's problems. Risk was associated with family functioning and health. Families with risk received a less support from maternity clinics. Families with child maltreatment risk and related factors were found.

CONCLUSIONS

This knowledge can be applied for supporting families both during pregnancy and after the baby is born. Professionals working with families in maternity clinics need tools to recognise families with risk and aid a discussion with them about the family life situation. The Child Abuse Potential, as a part of evaluating the family life situation, seems to prove a useful tool in identifying families at risk.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

The results offer a valid and useful tool for recognising families with risk and provide knowledge about high-risk family situations.

Children's experiences of domestic violence and abuse: Siblings' accounts of relational coping

This article explores how children see their relationships, particularly their sibling relationships, in families affected by domestic violence (DV) and how relationality emerges in their accounts as a resource to build an agentic sense of self. The 'voice' of children is largely absent from the DV literature, which typically portrays them as passive, damaged and relationally incompetent. Children's own understandings of their relational worlds are often overlooked, and consequently, existing models of children's social interactions give inadequate accounts of their meaning-making-in-context. Drawn from a larger study of children's experiences of DV and abuse, this article uses two case studies of sibling relationships to explore young people's use of relational resources, for coping with violence in the home. The article explores how relationality and coping intertwine in young people's accounts and disrupts the taken-for-granted assumption that children's 'premature caring' or 'parentification' is (only) pathological in children's responses to DV. This has implications for understanding young people's experiences in the present and supporting their capacity for relationship building in the future.

Women’s experiences of perpetrating family violence: a qualitative study

Female-perpetrated family violence is a difficult phenomenon to understand, as it does not easily conform to normative, gendered expectations of women. However, women can sometimes perpetrate family violence against their children and spouses. The aim of this study is to describe and make visible women’s experiences of perpetrating family violence. Nineteen women were interviewed about their experiences of perpetrating family violence. The data were analysed with an inductive content analysis and three categories emerged: the threat of losing the sense of self, acknowledging harming behaviour and challenges in obtaining help. These categories describe women’s conception of self, of their feminine identity and of gender role expectations in a family violence perpetrator context. If female-perpetrated family violence were acknowledged as a part of women’s behaviour this would reflect a shift in society’s notions of gender roles. Results of the study may be used by nurses when encountering women who have perpetrated family violence or in the development of nursing policies aimed at enhancing the wellbeing of the family.

The Influence of Witnessing Inter-parental Violence and Bullying Victimization in Involvement in Fighting among Adolescents: Evidence from a School-based Cross-sectional Survey in Peru

Background

Witnessing inter-parental violence and bullying victimization is common for many children and adolescents. This study examines the role of witnessing inter-parental violence and bullying victimization in involvement in physical fighting among Peruvian adolescents.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,368 randomly selected adolescents in 2015. We conducted logistic regression analyses to obtain crude and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals for involvement in fighting among male and female adolescents.

Results

Among all adolescents, 35.8% had been involved in fighting in the last 12 months, 32.9% had been victim of verbal bullying and 37.9% had been the victim of physical bullying. Additionally, 39.2% and 27.8% of adolescents witnessed violence against their mother and father, respectively, at least once in their lives. Multivariate logistic regression analyses found that late adolescence, participation in economic activities, being the victim of verbal bullying, stress, and witnessing violence against the father among male adolescents, and self-rated academic performance and being the victim of physical or verbal bullying among female adolescents were associated with higher odds of being involved in fighting.

Conclusion

Verbal bullying victimization and witnessing violence against the father in males and bullying victimization in females were associated with greater odds of adolescents being involved in fighting. Creating a non-violent environment at both home and school would be an effective strategy for reducing fighting among the adolescent population.

Assessing the family dynamics of childhood maltreatment history with the Childhood Attachment and Relational Trauma Screen (CARTS)

BACKGROUND

Existing survey measures of childhood trauma history generally fail to take into account the relational-socioecological environment in which childhood maltreatment occurs. Variables such as the relationship between the perpetrator and the victim, the emotional availability of caregivers, witnessing the abuse of others, and the respondent's own thoughts, feelings, and actions in response to maltreatment are rarely assessed by current measures.

METHODS

To address these concerns, the current study further investigated the family dynamics of childhood maltreatment using the Childhood Attachment and Relational Trauma Screen (CARTS) in 1,782 persons assessed online.

RESULTS

Paired differences in means between item-rated descriptiveness of self, mothers, and fathers suggested that respondents' relationship with their biological fathers was less positive and secure than their relationship with their biological mothers, and that biological fathers were more often the perpetrator of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse than biological mothers. However, results further suggested that ratings between self, mothers, and fathers were positively correlated such that, for example, reports of a mother's or a respondent's own abusive behavior were more likely in the presence of reports of a father's abusive behavior. In addition, analyses evaluating witnessing violence demonstrated that fathers were rated as more often violent toward mothers than the reverse, although intimate partner violence was also frequently bidirectional. Analyses of sibling ratings further demonstrated that older brothers were either as or more frequently abusive when compared with parents. Finally, results suggested that childhood emotional, physical, and sexual abuse were much more often perpetrated by family members than extra-familial and non-family members.

CONCLUSIONS

In so far as these findings are consistent with the prior childhood trauma and attachment literature, the current study further supports the utility of the CARTS as a means of assessing the family dynamics of childhood attachment and maltreatment within a relational-socioecological framework.

Parent-child warmth as a potential mediator of childhood exposure to intimate partner violence and positive adulthood functioning

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Links between childhood exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) and adult functioning are clear, but less research has examined the potential underpinnings of this association, especially the long-term effects of the parent-child relationship on adult well-being. We hypothesized that (i) childhood exposure to IPV would be negatively related to parent-child warmth and positively related to symptoms of psychopathology during adulthood and (ii) the relationship between IPV exposure and positive outcomes in adulthood (i.e., high life satisfaction and low psychopathology) would be mediated by parent-child warmth.

DESIGN

Participants included 703 Swedish adults (20-24).

METHODS

Participants responded to a self-report survey assessing violence exposure, parental warmth in childhood, and current mental health and well-being. Using multivariate regression and path analysis, models of the relationships between IPV exposure, parent-child warmth, symptoms of psychopathology during adulthood, and life satisfaction were examined. Mediation models were considered exploratory.

RESULTS

IPV exposure was related to lower levels of parent-child warmth, higher levels of psychopathology symptoms, and lower life satisfaction. The relationship between IPV exposure and positive outcomes in adulthood was mediated by parent-child warmth.

CONCLUSIONS

Warm parent-child interactions may play a key role in long-term positive functioning for those exposed to IPV during childhood.

Interfaces entre família e bullying escolar: uma revisão sistemática

Objetivou-se conhecer e mapear a produção científica que evidencia relações entre o contexto familiar e o envolvimento em situações de bullying escolar, por meio de uma revisão sistemática da literatura. Foram consultadas as bases de dados Lilacs, Web of Science e a biblioteca Scielo. A busca resultou em 54 artigos publicados em português, inglês e espanhol, entre 2008 e 2013, e a análise dos dados permitiu a identificação de sete categorias analíticas: 1) características estruturais; 2) práticas parentais; 3) estilos parentais; 4) clima familiar; 5) sentimentos dos pais em relação aos filhos; 6) saúde mental dos pais; e 7) violências. Constatou-se um predomínio de publicações internacionais e de estudos quantitativos e, no conjunto, verificou-se que algumas características e aspectos familiares estavam associados ao envolvimento de estudantes em situações de bullying. O estudo amplia o olhar interpretativo sobre o fenômeno e suas complexidades com uma abordagem contextual, indicando caminhos para novas pesquisas.

How public health nurses identify and intervene in child maltreatment based on the national clinical guideline

Objectives. To describe how Finnish public health nurses identify and intervene in child maltreatment and how they implement the National Clinical Guideline in their work. Design and Sample. Cross-sectional survey of 367 public health nurses in Finland. Measures. A web-based questionnaire developed based on the content areas of the guideline: identifying, intervening, and implementing. Results. The respondents reported they identify child maltreatment moderately (mean 3.38), intervene in it better (4.15), and implement the guideline moderately (3.43, scale between 1 and 6). Those with experience of working with maltreated children reported they identify them better (P < 0.001), intervene better (P < 0.001), and implement the guideline better (P < 0.001) than those with no experience. This difference was also found for those who were aware of the guideline, had read it, and participated in training on child maltreatment, as compared to those who were not aware of the guideline, had not read it, or had not participated in such training. Conclusions. The public health nurses worked quite well with children who had experienced maltreatment and families. However, the results point out several developmental targets for increasing training on child maltreatment, for devising recommendations for child maltreatment, and for applying these recommendations systematically in practice.

Interprofessional collaboration in the detection of and early intervention in child maltreatment: employees' experiences

Child maltreatment is a global problem and a multidimensional phenomenon occurring in all social classes. This study depicts interprofessional collaboration associated with the detection of and early intervention in child maltreatment taking place in the family. The data were collected in a large Finnish city, Tampere (207 866 citizens). A survey was administered to employees in day care, basic education, social and health services, and police (n = 865). The results indicate that interprofessional collaboration associated with the detection of and intervention in child maltreatment was best accomplished by social service employees and police personnel. Employees in day care, basic education, health services, and police had little knowledge of the methods used in other units. The most support for collaboration was reported by employees in social services and day care. The results provide basic knowledge of interprofessional collaboration associated with child maltreatment between the agencies involved in the study. The research evidence can also be utilized in an international context when developing collaboration between different fields.

Witnessing violence toward siblings: an understudied but potent form of early adversity

Research on the consequences of witnessing domestic violence has focused on inter-adult violence and most specifically on violence toward mothers. The potential consequences of witnessing violence to siblings have been almost entirely overlooked. Based on clinical experience we sought to test the hypothesis that witnessing violence toward siblings would be as consequential as witnessing violence toward mothers. The community sample consisted of unmedicated, right-handed, young adults who had siblings (n = 1,412; 62.7% female; 21.8±2.1 years of age). History of witnessing threats or assaults to mothers, fathers and siblings, exposure to parental and sibling verbal abuse and physical abuse, sexual abuse and sociodemographic factors were assessed by self-report. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, somatization, anger-hostility, dissociation and ‘limbic irritability’ were assessed by rating scales. Data were analyzed by multiple regression, with techniques to gauge relative importance; logistic regression to assess adjusted odds ratios for clinically-significant ratings; and random forest regression using conditional trees. Subjects reported witnessing violence to siblings slightly more often than witnessing violence to mothers (22% vs 21%), which overlapped by 51–54%. Witnessing violence toward siblings was associated with significant effects on all ratings. Witnessing violence toward mother was not associated with significant effects on any scale in these models. Measures of the relative importance of witnessing violence to siblings were many fold greater than measures of importance for witnessing violence towards mothers or fathers. Mediation and structural equation models showed that effects of witnessing violence toward mothers or fathers were predominantly indirect and mediated by changes in maternal behavior. The effects of witnessing violence toward siblings were more direct. These findings suggest that greater attention be given to the effects of witnessing aggression toward siblings in studies of domestic violence, abuse and early adversity.

School bullying perpetration and other childhood risk factors as predictors of adult intimate partner violence perpetration

OBJECTIVE

To assess the relationship between bullying peers as a child and adult intimate partner violence perpetration in a clinic-based sample of adult men. School bullying perpetration and intimate partner violence perpetration are both thought to stem from desire for power and control over others.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional survey was conducted between January 2005 and December 2006.

SETTING

Three urban community health centers in Boston, Massachusetts.

PARTICIPANTS

Men aged 18 to 35 years (n = 1491) seeking services at participating community health centers.

MAIN EXPOSURE

School bullying perpetration.

OUTCOME MEASURE

Past-year physical or sexual violence perpetration against a female partner (intimate-partner violence [IPV]).

RESULTS

Two-fifths of men reported perpetrating school bullying as a child (n = 610; 40.9%). Men who rarely bullied in school were 1.53 times more likely to perpetrate past-year IPV than men who did not bully (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-2.29); this risk was elevated to 3.82 times more likely to perpetrate any past-year IPV for those men who bullied peers frequently (95% CI, 2.55-5.73).

CONCLUSIONS

The present study indicates that bullying peers in school as a child, especially frequent bullying perpetration, is associated with increased risk for men's perpetration of IPV as an adult. The effect remains strong after controlling for common prior risk factors for both bullying and IPV perpetration. Future research is needed to discern the mechanisms and underlying root causes of abusive behavior, such as power and control, as a means to prevent violence perpetration across settings and life stages.