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Lasting effect of intimate partner violence exposure during preschool on aggressive behavior and prosocial skills

Megan R Holmes1, Laura A Voith2, Andrea N Gromoske2

  • 1Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA mholmes@case.edu.

Journal of Interpersonal Violence
|October 8, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Children exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) may develop aggressive behaviors that persist. IPV impacts girls

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Childhood Adversity Research
  • Social Behavior Studies

Background:

  • Intimate partner violence (IPV) exposure is a known risk factor for negative child social behavior.
  • Longitudinal effects of preschool IPV exposure on social behavior into early school years are not well understood.
  • The potential for maladaptive behaviors to cross developmental domains and gender differences in these pathways require investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the sustained impact of early intimate partner violence (IPV) exposure on children's aggressive behavior and prosocial skills.
  • To investigate cross-domain links between aggressive behavior and prosocial skill deficits over time.
  • To determine if these developmental trajectories differ by gender.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized longitudinal data from 1,125 children (aged 3-4 at Time 1, 5-7 at Time 2) from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being.
  • Employed nested longitudinal structural equation models to analyze the data.
  • Assessed aggressive behavior and prosocial skills stability and the impact of IPV exposure across two time points.

Main Results:

  • Aggressive behavior and prosocial skills demonstrated stability across the observed time periods.
  • Early IPV exposure predicted increased aggressive behavior, which remained elevated in later childhood.
  • Gender differences were observed: IPV was linked to prosocial skill deficits in girls, and aggressive behavior predicted later prosocial deficits in boys.

Conclusions:

  • Childhood behavioral problems can stem from early adverse experiences like IPV, with effects persisting and potentially spreading across developmental domains.
  • Findings highlight the importance of considering gender-specific pathways in understanding the impact of IPV on child development.
  • Gender-tailored interventions focusing on promoting child competence are crucial for mitigating long-term maladaptive outcomes.

Keywords:
aggressive behaviorgender differencesintimate partner violence exposureprosocial skills

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