The consequences of being a victim and witness of family violence as reported by mothers and child victims
Abstract
This study investigates the association between witnessing family violence and children's symptoms of psychopathology. The aim of the study was to examine what children's mental health problems might result from living in a home where violence between family members is evident. Determining this association is crucial for understanding under what circumstances conduct disorder (CD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may occur in order to develop appropriate treatment, intervention and prevention programs. This dissertation is unique in that it overcomes the limitations of previous studies regarding the consequences of witnessing family violence for children. Specifically, this study included both child reported behaviors and mother reported behaviors and a large clinical sample of 169 children aged 7-13. The current study builds on the literature as it includes the importance of witnessing family violence and not solely being a direct victim of abuse in the development of PTSD and CD. Last, this study employs a variable weighting process in order to determine the roles of severity and type of domestic violence on child PTSD and CD. Being a victim of child physical abuse (CPA) and witnessing family violence predicted parent reported child PTSD but not child reported PTSD symptoms. Being a victim of CSA and witnessing family violence did not predict parent or child reported child PTSD. (Author Abstract)
Description
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Article
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Keywords
child abuse, child witness, physical abuse, domestic violence, research
Citation
Kelly, L. T. (2015). The consequences of being a victim and witness of family violence as reported by mothers and child victims (Doctoral dissertation, Texas Tech University).