Witnessing Spouse Abuse and Experiencing Physical Abuse: A "Double Whammy"?

• NCJ Number: 119599
• Journal: Journal of Family Violence Volume: 4 Issue: 2 Dated: (1989) Pages: 197-209
• Author(s): H M Hughes; D Parkinson; M Vargo
• Date Published: 1989
• Length: 13 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Paper presented at the 95th Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Association, New York, 1987

Annotation

Abused and nonabused children between 4 and 12 years of age who witnessed parental violence were compared with children from similar economic backgrounds on measures of anxiety, depression, and behavior problems.

Abstract

The sample included 40 abused children and 44 nonabused children who witnessed parental violence and who were temporary residents of a battered women's shelter, along with 66 comparison children. Mothers completed a behavior problem inventory, while children responded to paper-and-pencil self-report measures. Study findings showed that abused children who witnessed parental violence manifested significantly more distress on the behavior problem measure than comparison children. Adjustment was influenced by the type of behavior assessed, forms of violence children experienced, and children's age. Implications of the study's differential findings are discussed. 32 references, 2 tables, 1 figure. (Author abstract modified)