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Dissimilarity in vulnerability: self-reported symptoms among children with experiences of intimate partner violence

Anna Georgsson1, Kjerstin Almqvist, Anders G Broberg

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg, Sweden. anna.georgsson@psy.gu.se

Child Psychiatry and Human Development
|May 4, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Children exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) report more symptoms. Girls with continued contact with an abusive father experienced more mental health issues, while younger children in judicial processes also showed increased problems.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Forensic Psychology
  • Social Sciences

Background:

  • Children exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) face significant risks.
  • Symptom manifestation varies based on gender and age.
  • Understanding these variations is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore self-reported symptoms in children with IPV experiences.
  • To investigate gender and age-related differences in symptom presentation.
  • To examine the impact of continued contact with an abuser and judicial processes on child mental health.

Main Methods:

  • Exploratory study utilizing children's self-reports.
  • Recruitment of 41 children aged 7-19 years.
  • Inclusion in a specialized group program for children exposed to IPV.

Main Results:

  • Children with IPV experiences reported higher overall symptom levels compared to non-exposed children.
  • Girls with continued contact with an abusive father reported more mental health problems than other girls and boys.
  • Age, not gender, was associated with symptom differences in children involved in judicial processes, with younger children reporting more problems.

Conclusions:

  • IPV exposure is linked to increased symptom reporting in children.
  • Gender moderates the impact of continued abuser contact on mental health.
  • Judicial processes exacerbate mental health challenges, particularly in younger children exposed to IPV.

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