Abstract
This study examined whether male-perpetrated sexual intimate partner violence (IPV) directed at a child's mother is associated with children's adjustment problems and if sexual IPV increases risk for children's adjustment problems over and above the risk associated with physical IPV alone. Participants were a community sample of 539 mothers and their children (age 7-10 years). Mothers and children reported on children's externalizing and internalizing problems. Mothers reported on recent male-perpetrated physical and sexual IPV and on their own psychological distress (depressive symptoms, relationship dissatisfaction). Four groups were formed on the basis of mothers' reports of IPV: Nonviolent, physical only, sexual only, and sexual + physical. Children in the physical-only, sexual-only, and sexual + physical groups exhibited greater levels of externalizing problems than did children in the nonviolent group. Levels of externalizing problems among children in the physical-only and sexual-only groups did not differ. Including sexual IPV in the conceptualization of children's exposure to IPV may offer a more comprehensive understanding of how children are affected by IPV.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 503-508 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Journal of Family Psychology |
Volume | 30 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 1 2016 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Children's adjustment problems
- Children's exposure to violence
- Intimate partner violence
- Sexual coercion
- Sexual violence
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Psychology