NCJ Number
221939
Journal
Journal of Family Violence Volume: 23 Issue: 3 Dated: April 2008 Pages: 203-209
Date Published
April 2008
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This study examined whether perpetrator and victim gender impacted depressive symptoms and aggressive behavior for victims of child physical abuse (CPA), children who witnessed interparental violence (IPV), and children who witnessed siblings being physically abused.
Abstract
The findings indicated that aggressive behavior by children was associated with being abused by both parents or by mothers only. Depressive symptoms were more often present in children victimized by fathers only or by both parents, compared with nonvictims. Apparently, being a victim of physical abuse by both parents had a detrimental effect on both depressive symptoms and aggression; however, being abused by only one parent may have different effects, depending on the gender of the perpetrator. Both female and male children who witnessed their mothers being abused by their fathers had more depressive symptoms and aggressive behavior. Both boys and girls were more likely to have negative outcomes from witnessing both parents as perpetrators of intimate partner violence. Findings regarding the witnessing of parental abuse of a sibling were similar to those for being a victim oneself. Future research should further distinguish participants by type of violence regarding the witnessing of sibling abuse. A total of 675 college students (307 men and 392 women) participated in the study. The Conflict Tactics Scale-Revised measured physical assault and injury from parents, as well as witnessing the abuse of siblings. The Beck Depression Inventory measured depressive symptoms, and the Aggression Questionnaire measured four aspects of aggression (physical, verbal, anger, and hostility). 4 tables and 33 references