Relationship Abuse and Victims’ Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms: Associations with Child Behavior Problems

• Published in: Journal of family violence Vol. 22; no. 4; pp. 177 - 185
• Main Authors: Panuzio, Jillian, Taft, Casey T, Black, Danielle A, Koenen, Karestan C, Murphy, Christopher M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer 01.05.2007; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Abused children; Aggression; Aggressiveness; Associations; Behavior; Behavior disorders; Behavior Problems; Behaviour disordered children; Behavioural problems; Behaviourism; Child Abuse; Child psychology; Children; Domestic violence; Emotional abuse; Families & family life; Family studies; Females; Males; Perpetrators; Post traumatic stress disorder; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Psychic assault; Psychological abuse; Psychological aspects; Social problems; Survivor; Symptoms; Trauma; Treatment programs; Victims
• ISSN: 0885-7482; 1573-2851
• DOI: 10.1007/s10896-007-9069-z

This study examined associations among male-to-female physical and psychological relationship aggression. Male partners PTSD symptoms, and behavior problems among the children (n=62) of men enrolled in a treatment program for relationship abuse perpetration. Psychological aggression was a stronger predictor of child behavior problems than physical assault. Restrictive engulfment and hostile withdrawal behaviors evidenced the strongest bivariate associations with child behavior problems, and were the strongest predictors of this outcome when considering four distinct forms of psychological aggression together. Victim PTSD symptoms largely mediated the effects of psychological aggression on child behavior. Findings suggest that male-to-female psychological aggression and victim PTSD symptoms play an important role in understanding behavior problems among children living with male relationship abuse perpetrators. Adapted from the source document.