A series of study has suggested that children exposed to family violence are at an increased risk for maladaptation. The present study aimed at advancing of our understanding the children's response to family violence and examining the effects of fam...
A series of study has suggested that children exposed to family violence are at an increased risk for maladaptation. The present study aimed at advancing of our understanding the children's response to family violence and examining the effects of family violence on children's adaptation. Moreover protective factors that help children to adapt in response to family violence were studied in order to set up an effective intervening model of social work service for these children. The present studies were based on the nonproportional stratified sampling according to classified data of the Department of Education in Taegu and Kyungbuk. The study subjects were 2nd grade middle school students (n=732) in Korea. The subjects were divided into two groups according to family violence experienced by children: Group 1, Children exposed to family violence (n=512); Group 2, Children not exposed to family violence (n=220). Group 1 was further divided into two parts: Group 1-1; children who exposed to marital violence and violence was also committed to themselves (n=385), Group 1-2; children who exposed to marital violence, but violence was not committed to themselves (n=127).
The results were as follows:
First, family violence on children was more committed by father rather than mother.
Second, different adaptational abilities/problems were noted in children belong to each group. Children exposed to family violence (Group 1) had more severe maladaptation problems than non-exposed group (Group 2). Even in exposed group(Group 1), children who were exposed to marital violence as well as experienced violence committed to themselves (Group 1-1) revealed more severe maladaptation problems than children who only witnessed marital violence (Group 1-2). Thus there was significantly positive correlation between family violence and children's maladaptation. In particular, specific problems such as withdrawal and deficits in social skills were significantly confined to children exposed to family violence (Group 1).
Third, several protective factors (personal, family and community factor) were involved in determining children's adaptation in response to family violence. In particular personal factor was the most significant one in determining children's adaptation. The next significant factor was from community, but family factor had less importance.
Fourth, several protective factors were specifically important to each group: self-esteem, self control, social service for Group 1-1; self-esteem for Group 1-2; and self-esteem, self control, positive relationship to mother, and support from friends for Group 2.
Fifth, Group 1 was further analyzed by subdividing into adaptive and maladaptive groups. High self-esteem in personal factor, positive relationship to father in family factor, and good support by friend as well as social service in community factor were significantly associated with adaptive group.
Thus for setting up an effective intervening social work program for these children exposed to family violence, it would be the first to understand the characteristics of family violence and to know children's problems related with family violence. The second one would be to examine protective factors for children's adaptation in response to family violence. For this, it is important to treat these children on the basis of their specific personal, family and community factors, especially personal factors such as self-esteem and self control.
This study refines existing knowledge about the family violence toward children in their home. In conclusion, social work service system should be set up for proving a variety of protective factors to children for intervening children's problems associated with family violence. Social worker are encouraged to use a comprehensive assessment approach which addresses the nature of the children's experiences, potential mediating variables and a range of developmental outcomes. Intervention can therefore be directed at processes through which protective factor may function.