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Children's exposure to intimate partner violence: Should sexual coercion be considered?
Ernest N Jouriles1, Renee McDonald1, Nicole L Vu1
1Department of Psychology.
Insights
Male sexual intimate partner violence (IPV) against mothers is linked to children's externalizing problems. This research highlights the impact of sexual IPV on child adjustment, beyond physical abuse alone.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Domestic Violence Research
- Family Studies
Background:
- Intimate partner violence (IPV) significantly impacts child well-being.
- Previous research has primarily focused on physical IPV's effects on children.
- The unique contribution of sexual IPV to child adjustment problems requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if male-perpetrated sexual IPV against mothers is associated with children's adjustment issues.
- To assess if sexual IPV elevates children's risk for adjustment problems beyond physical IPV.
- To enhance the understanding of children's exposure to diverse forms of IPV.
Main Methods:
- A community sample of 539 mothers and their 7-10-year-old children participated.
- Mothers and children reported on children's externalizing and internalizing behaviors.
- Mothers reported on physical and sexual IPV, and their psychological distress.
Main Results:
- Children exposed to physical-only, sexual-only, or combined sexual and physical IPV showed higher externalizing problems than non-exposed children.
- No significant difference in externalizing problems was found between children exposed to physical-only IPV and those exposed to sexual-only IPV.
- Maternal psychological distress was also assessed in relation to IPV exposure.
Conclusions:
- Sexual IPV, like physical IPV, is associated with increased externalizing problems in children.
- Incorporating sexual IPV into IPV research provides a more complete picture of its effects on child adjustment.
- Findings underscore the need for interventions addressing all forms of IPV to support child well-being.
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. (PsycINFO Database Record