The purpose of the study is to examine (1) whether children from wife-battering families are themselves physically battered, (2) what are their behavior problems, and (3) what are the correlates of their behavior problems. The study sample is comprise...
The purpose of the study is to examine (1) whether children from wife-battering families are themselves physically battered, (2) what are their behavior problems, and (3) what are the correlates of their behavior problems. The study sample is comprised of 4-11 years old children residing with their mothers in ten shelterers.
Children in family violence shelters have witnessed parental violence at home. In addition, the results showed that 91% of these children were themselves physically battered. In addition, they exhibited relatively high behavior problem scores ; 34.5% have higher scores than 63T total behavior problems, 24.1% and 22.4% higher than 63T internalizing and externalizing problems. Following the definition of a clinical group by Oh et al. (1997), 55.2% of these children turned out to be in need of professional therapy.
Overall, boys, in comparison to girls, have more severe problems; They have more internalizing, externalizing and total behavior problems than girls. Contrary to previous results in USA, boys have more internalizing problems (such as thought and social problem) than externalizing ones (such as aggressive behaviors and delinquent behaviors). Most serious problems in girls are withdrawn. But, they also showed delinquent and aggressive problems.
The correlates of boys' problems indicated that they are influenced by parent's characteristics (such as mother's and father's education). The correlate of girls' problems is their age, which indicated that they have possibility to show worse problems in their adolescences (delayed effects).
The study evidenced that children from wife-battering families are in danger and should not be overlooked. They experience serious behavior problems which warrant immediate professional help and the provision of supportive environment for healthy development.