Identifying Experience of Physical and Psychological Violence in Childhood that Jeopardize Mental Health in Adulthood

• NCJ Number: 230428
• Journal: Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 34 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2010 Pages: 161-171
• Author(s): Emily A. Greenfield; Nadine F. Marks
• Date Published: March 2010
• Length: 11 pages
• Grant Number(s): AG206983; AG20166
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Aging
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined patterns of associations between distinct profiles of physical and psychological violence in childhood from mothers and fathers and two aspects of adult mental health, negative affect and psychological well-being.

Abstract

Results of the study provide evidence that frequent experiences of psychological violence from parents can place individuals' long-term mental health at risk, and frequent physical violence from fathers serves as a risk factor for poorer adult mental health. The results suggest the importance of additional research in this are to explicitly consider variations among individuals' experiences of violence in childhood. Recognizing that children who experience one type of violence are likely to experience other types of violence as well, scholars have noted an important gap in the literature on the long-term psychological consequences of childhood abuse. Utilizing data from the National Survey of Midlife in the United States, this study examined associations between profiles of physical and psychological violence in childhood from parents and two dimensions of mental health in adulthood (negative affect and psychological well-being). Figure, tables, and references