Top

Published in:

Open Access 01-07-2019 | Original Article

Physical Violence in Family Sub-Systems: Links to Peer Victimization and Long-Term Emotional and Behavioral Problems

Authors: Terese Glatz, Åsa Källström, Karin Hellfeldt, Sara Thunberg

Published in: Journal of Family Violence | Issue 5/2019

Abstract

Although childhood violence by any person is negative for children, little is known about whether violence by different family members is linked differently to problems in young adulthood, as family relationships might play different roles in children’s individual development. In this study, we examine parent and sibling violence and associations with emotional and behavioral problems, directly and indirectly via peer victimization. We used retrospective reports from 347 young adults (aged 20–24) who all reported childhood family physical violence, and we performed a path analysis using Mplus. The results showed that participants who had been victimized by a sibling only or by both a sibling and parent were more likely to report peer victimization than were participants who had been victimized by parents only. Peer victimization was, in turn, linked to more aggression, criminality, and anxiety. Theoretical and clinical implications of these results are discussed.

Álvarez-García, D., García, T., & Núñez, J. C. (2015). Predictors of school bullying perpetration in adolescence: A systematic review. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 23, 126–136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2015.05.007.CrossRef

Andershed, H., Kerr, M., Stattin, H., & Levander, S. (2002). Psychopathic traits in non-referred youths: A new assessment tool. In E. Blaauw & L. Sheridan (Eds.), Psychopaths: Current international perspectives (pp. 131–158). The Hague: Elsevier.

Annerbäck, E. M., Sahlqvist, L., Svedin, C. G., Wingren, G., & Gustafsson, P. A. (2012). Child physical abuse and concurrence of other types of child abuse in Sweden – Associations with health and risk behaviors. Child Abuse & Neglect, 36, 585–595. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2012.05.006.CrossRef

Baldry, A. C. (2003). Bullying in schools and exposure to domestic violence. Child Abuse & Neglect, 27, 713–732. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0145-2134(03)00114-5.CrossRef

Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. New York: General Learning Press.

Banks, L., Burraston, B., & Snyder, J. (2004). Sibling conflict and ineffective parenting as predictors of adolescent boys' antisocial behavior and peer difficulties: Additive and interactional effects. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 14, 99–125. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-7795.2004.01401005.x.CrossRef

Bowes, L., Wolke, D., Joinson, C., Lereya, S. T., & Lewis, G. (2014). Sibling bullying and risk of depression, anxiety, and self-harm: A prospective cohort study. Pediatrics, 134, e1032–e1039. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2014-0832.CrossRefPubMed

Burcar, V. (2005). Gestaltningar av offererfarenheter: samtal med unga män som utsatts för brott. Lund (p. 221). Sweden: Lund University.

Buss, A. H., & Perry, M. P. (1992). The aggression questionnaire. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 63, 452–459. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.63.3.452.CrossRefPubMed

Button, D. M., & Gealt, R. (2010). High risk behaviors among victims of sibling violence. Journal of Family Violence, 25, 131–140. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-009-9276-x.CrossRef

Cater, Å. K., Andershed, A.-K., & Andershed, H. (2014). Youth victimization in Sweden: Prevalence, characteristics and relation to mental health and behavioral problems in young adulthood. Child Abuse & Neglect, 38, 1290–1302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2014.03.002.CrossRef

Cohen, P., Brown, J., & Smailes, E. (2001). Child abuse and neglect and the development of mental disorders in the general population. Development and Psychopathology, 13, 981–999.PubMed

Copeland, W. E., Wolke, D., Angold, A., & Costello, E. J. (2013). Adult psychiatric outcomes of bullying and being bullied by peers in childhood and adolescence. JAMA Psychiatry, 70, 419–426. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2013.504.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Cox, M. J., & Paley, B. (2003). Understanding families as systems. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 12, 193–196. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8721.01259.CrossRef

Coyle, S., Demaray, M. K., Malecki, C. K., Tennant, J. E., & Klossing, J. (2017). The associations among sibling and peer-bullying, social support and internalizing behaviors. Child & Youth Care Forum, 46, 895–922. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-017-9412-3.CrossRef

Criss, M. M., & Shaw, D. S. (2005). Sibling relationships as contexts for delinquency training in low-income families. Journal of Family Psychology, 19, 592–600. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.19.4.592.CrossRefPubMed

Dantchev, S., Zammit, S., & Wolke, D. (2018). Sibling bullying in middle childhood and psychotic disorder at 18 years: A prospective cohort study. Psychological Medicine, 48, 2321–2328. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291717003841.CrossRefPubMed

Davies, B., & Harré, R. (1990). Positioning: The discursive production of selves. Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour, 20, 43–63. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-5914.1990.tb00174.x.CrossRef

Eriksen, S., & Jensen, V. (2009). A push or a punch: Distinguishing the severity of sibling violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 24, 183–208. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260508316298.

Espelage, D. L., Low, S., & De La Rue, L. (2012). Relations between peer victimization subtypes, family violence, and psychological outcomes during early adolescence. Psychology of Violence, 2, 313–324. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027386.CrossRef

Espelage, D. L., Low, S., Rao, M. A., Hong, J. S., & Little, T. D. (2014). Family violence, bullying, fighting, and substance use among adolescents: A longitudinal mediational model. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 24, 337–349. https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.12060.CrossRef

Evans, S. E., Davies, C., & DiLillo, D. (2008). Exposure to domestic violence: A meta-analysis of child and adolescent outcomes. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 13, 131–140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2008.02.005.CrossRef

Feinberg, M. E., Solmeyer, A. R., & McHale, S. M. (2012). The third rail of family systems: Sibling relationships, mental and behavioral health, and preventive intervention in childhood and adolescence. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 15, 43–57. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-011-0104-5.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Finkelhor, D., Hamby, S., Ormrod, R., & Turner, H. (2005). The juvenile victimization questionnaire: Reliability, validity, and national norms. Child Abuse & Neglect, 29, 383–412. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2004.11.001.CrossRef

Finkelhor, D., Turner, H., & Ormrod, R. (2006). Kid’s stuff: The nature and impact of peer and sibling violence on younger and older children. Child Abuse & Neglect, 30, 1401–1421. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2006.06.006.CrossRef

Finkelhor, D., Turner, H. A., Shattuck, A., & Hamby, S. L. (2015). Prevalence of childhood exposure to violence, crime, and abuse: Results from the national survey of children’s exposure to violence. JAMA Pediatrics, 169, 746–754. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2015.0676.CrossRefPubMed

Fohring S. (2012) The process of victimisation: investigating risk, reporting and service use. Edinburg: The University of Edinburgh, 217.

Geldard, K., Geldard, D., & Yin Foo, R. (2016). Counselling adolescents – The proactive approach for young people. London: Sage Publications.

Gilbert, R., Widom, C. S., Browne, K., Fergusson, D., Webb, E., & Janson, S. (2009). Burden and consequences of child maltreatment in high-income countries. The Lancet, 373, 68–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(08)61706-7.CrossRef

Graham-Bermann, S. A., Cutler, S. E., Litzenberger, B. W., & Schwartz, W. E. (1994). Perceived sibling violence and emotional adjustment during childhood and adolescence. Journal of Family Psychology, 8, 85–97. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.8.1.85. CrossRef

Hamby, S. L., Finkelhor, D., Ormrod, R. K., & Turner, H. A. (2004). The juvenile victimization questionnaire (JVQ): Administration and scoring manual. Durham: University of New Hampshire, Crimes Against Children Research Center.

Harré, R., & van Langenhove, L. (2007). Varieties of positioning. Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour, 21, 393–407. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-5914.1991.tb00203.x.CrossRef

Hartup, W. W. (1978). Perspectives on child and family interaction: Past, present, and future. In R. M. Lerner & G. B. Spanier (Eds.), Child influences on marital and family interaction: A life-span perspective (pp. 23–46). San Francisco: Academic Press.CrossRef

Hoffman, K. L., & Edwards, J. N. (2004). An integrated theoretical model of sibling violence and abuse. Journal of Family Violence, 19, 185–200. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOFV.0000028078.71745.a2.CrossRef

Hoglund, W. L. (2007). School functioning in early adolescence: Gender-linked responses to peer victimization. Journal of Educational Psychology, 99, 683–699. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.99.4.683.CrossRef

Howe, N., & Recchia, H. (2014). Sibling relationships as a context for learning and development. Early Education and Development, 25, 155–159. https://doi.org/10.1080/10409289.2014.857562.CrossRef

Hoyle, R. H. (2016). Handbook of structural equation modeling. New York: The Guilford Press.

Hughes, K., Bellis, M. A., Hardcastle, K. A., Sethi, D., Butchart, A., Mikton, C., Jones, L., & Dunne, M. P. (2017). The effect of multiple adverse childhood experiences on health: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Public Health, 2, 356–366. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(17)30118-4.CrossRef

Jacobsen, T., & Hofmann, V. (1997). Children’s attachment representations: Longitudinal relations to school behavior and academic competency in middle childhood and adolescence. Developmental Psychology, 33, 703–710. https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.33.4.703.CrossRefPubMed

Janson, S., Långberg, B., & Svensson, B. (2007). Våld mot barn 2006-2007 – en nationell kartläggning [Violence against children – A national survey in Sweden 2006–2007]. Stiftelsen Allmänna Barnhuset och Karlstad universitet 2007:4.

Janson, S., Jernbro, C., & Långberg, B. (2011). Kroppslig bestraffning och annan kränkning av barn i Sverige - en nationell kartläggning 2011 [physical punishment and other types of violation of children in Sweden – A national survey 2011]. Stiftelsen Allmänna Barnhuset.

Källström, Å., Hellfeldt, K., Howell, K., Miller-Graff, L., & Graham-Bermann, S. (2017). Young adults victimized as children or adolescents: Relationships between perpetrator patterns, poly-victimization, and mental health problems. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260517701452.

Khan, R., & Rogers, P. (2015). The normalization of sibling violence: Does gender and personal experience of violence influence perceptions of physical assault against siblings? Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 30, 437–458. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260514535095.CrossRefPubMed

Klomek, A. B., Sourander, A., & Elonheimo, H. (2015). Bullying by peers in childhood and effects on psychopathology, suicidality, and criminality in adulthood. The Lancet Psychiatry, 2, 930–941. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(15)00223-0.CrossRefPubMed

Koenig, A. L., Cicchetti, D., & Rogosch, F. A. (2000). Child compliance/noncompliance and maternal contributors to internalization in maltreating and nonmaltreating dyads. Child Development, 71, 1018–1032. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8624.00206.CrossRefPubMed

Kramer, L. (2014). Learning emotional understanding and emotion regulation through sibling interaction. Early Education and Development, 25, 160–184. https://doi.org/10.1080/10409289.2014.838824.CrossRef

Ladd, G. W. (1992). Themes and theories: Perspectives on processes in family peer relationships. In R. D. Park & G. W. Ladd (Eds.), Family–peer relationships: Models of linkage (pp. 3–34). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Lereya, S. T., Samara, M., & Wolke, D. (2013). Parenting behavior and the risk of becoming a victim and a bully/victim: A meta-analysis study. Child Abuse & Neglect, 37, 1091–1108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2013.03.001.CrossRef

Lereya, S. T., Copeland, W. E., Costello, E. J., & Wolke, D. (2015). Adult mental health consequences of peer bullying and maltreatment in childhood: Two cohorts in two countries. The Lancet Psychiatry, 2, 524–531. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(15)00165-0.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

MacKinnon, D. P., Lockwood, C. M., Hoffman, J. M., West, S. G., & Sheets, V. (2002). A comparison of methods to test mediation and other intervening variable effects. Psychological Methods, 7, 83–104. https://doi.org/10.1037//1082-989X.7.1.83.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Mandelli, L., Petrelli, C., & Serretti, A. (2015). The role of specific early trauma in adult depression: A meta-analysis of published literature. Childhood trauma and adult depression. European Psychiatry, 30, 665–680. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpsy.2015.04.007.CrossRefPubMed

May-Chahal, C., & Cawson, P. (2005). Measuring child maltreatment in the United Kingdom: A study of the prevalence of child abuse and neglect. Child Abuse & Neglect, 29, 969–984. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2004.05.009.CrossRef

Meyers, A. (2017). Lifting the veil: The lived experience of sibling abuse. Qualitative Social Work, 16, 333–350. https://doi.org/10.1177/1473325015612143.CrossRef

Minuchin, S. (1974). Families & family therapy. Oxford: Harvard University Press.

Muris, P., Meesters, C., & van den Berg, S. (2003). Internalizing and externalizing problems as correlates of self-reported attachment style and perceived parental rearing in normal adolescents. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 12, 171–183. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-003-0298-2.CrossRef

Muthén, B. O., & Muthén, L. K. (1998–2012). Mplus user’s guide (7th ed.). Los Angeles: Author.

Perry, D. G., Hodges, E. V. E., & Egan, S. K. (2001). Determinants of chronic victimization by peers: A review and new model of family influence. In J. Juvonen & S. Graham (Eds.), Peer harassment in school: The plight of the vulnerable and victimized (pp. 73–104). New York: Guilford Press.

Pickering, J. A., & Sanders, M. R. (2017). Integrating Parents' views on sibling relationships to tailor an evidence-based parenting intervention for sibling conflict. Family Process, 56, 105–125. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12173.CrossRefPubMed

Shrout, P. E., & Bolger, N. (2002). Mediation in experimental and nonexperimental studies: New procedures and recommendations. Psychological Methods, 7, 422–445. https://doi.org/10.1037//1082-989X.7.4.422.CrossRefPubMed

Sigurdson, J. F., Undheim, A. M., Wallander, J. L., Lydersen, S., & Sund, A. M. (2015). The long-term effects of being bullied or a bully in adolescence on externalizing and internalizing mental health problems in adulthood. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 9, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-015-0075-2.CrossRef

Smith, J., & Ross, H. (2007). Training parents to mediate sibling disputes affects children's negotiation and conflict understanding. Child Development, 78, 790–805. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2007.01033.x.CrossRefPubMed

Springer, K. W., Sheridan, J., Kuo, D., & Carnes, M. (2007). Long-term physical and mental health consequences of childhood physical abuse: Results from a large population-based sample of men and women. Child Abuse & Neglect, 31, 517–530. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2007.01.003.CrossRef

Sullivan, T. N., Farrell, A. D., & Kliewer, W. (2006). Peer victimization in early adolescence: Association between physical and relational victimization and drug use, aggression, and delinquent behaviors among urban middle school students. Development and Psychopathology, 18, 119–137. https://doi.org/10.1017/S095457940606007X.CrossRefPubMed

Thomas, B. W., & Roberts, M. W. (2009). Sibling conflict resolution skills: Assessment and training. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 18, 447–453. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-008-9248-4.CrossRef

Tippett, N., & Wolke, D. (2015). Aggression between siblings: Associations with the home environment and peer bullying. Aggressive Behavior, 41, 14–24. https://doi.org/10.1002/ab.21557.CrossRefPubMed

Ttofi, M. M., Farrington, D. P., & Lösel, F. (2012). School bullying as a predictor of violence later in life: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective longitudinal studies. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 17, 405–418. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2012.05.002.CrossRef

Tucker, C. J., & Finkelhor, D. (2017). The state of interventions for sibling conflict and aggression: A systematic review. Trauma, Violence & Abuse, 18, 396–406. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838015622438.CrossRef

Tucker, C. J., Finkelhor, D., Turner, H., & Shattuck, A. (2013). Association of sibling aggression with child and adolescent mental health. Pediatrics, 132, 79–84. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2012-3801.CrossRefPubMed

Tucker, C. J., Finkelhor, D., Turner, H., & Shattuck, A. M. (2014). Sibling and peer victimization in childhood and adolescence. Child Abuse & Neglect, 38, 1599–1606. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2014.05.007.CrossRef

van Berkel, S. R., Tucker, C. J., & Finkelhor, D. (2018). The combination of sibling victimization and parental child maltreatment on mental health problems and delinquency. Child Maltreatment, January 8, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077559517751670.

Widom, C. S. (2000). Childhood victimization: Early adversity, later psychopathology. National institute of justice journal, 2000. National Institute of Justice Journal, 242, 3–9.

Widom, C. S., Raphael, K. G., & DuMont, K. A. (2004). The case for prospective longitudinal studies in child maltreatment research: Commentary on Dube, Williamson, Thompson, Felitti, and Anda (2004). Child Abuse & Neglect, 28, 715–722. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2004.03.009.CrossRef

Wolke, D., & Samara, M. M. (2004). Bullied by siblings: Association with peer victimisation and behaviour problems in Israeli lower secondary school children. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 45, 1015–1029. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2004.t01-1-00293.x.CrossRefPubMed

Wolke, D., Tippett, N., & Dantchev, S. (2015). Bullying in the family: Sibling bullying. The Lancet Psychiatry, 2, 917–929. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(15)00262-X.CrossRefPubMed

Wright, E. M., Fagan, A. A., & Pinchevsky, G. M. (2013). The effects of exposure to violence and victimization across life domains on adolescent substance use. Child Abuse & Neglect, 37, 899–909. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2013.04.010.CrossRef

Zigmond, A. S., & Snaith, R. P. (1983). The hospital anxiety and depression scale. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 67, 361–370. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.1983.tb09716.x.CrossRefPubMed

Title: Physical Violence in Family Sub-Systems: Links to Peer Victimization and Long-Term Emotional and Behavioral Problems
Authors: Terese Glatz
Åsa Källström
Karin Hellfeldt
Sara Thunberg
Publication date: 01-07-2019
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Family Violence / Issue 5/2019
Print ISSN: 0885-7482
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2851
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-018-0029-6

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Physical Violence in Family Sub-Systems: Links to Peer Victimization and Long-Term Emotional and Behavioral Problems

Abstract

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 5/2019

Developing Assessments for Child Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence in Switzerland – a Study of Medico-Legal Reports in Clinical Settings

This is Abuse?: Young Women’s Perspectives of What’s ‘OK’ and ‘Not OK’ in their Intimate Relationships

School and Child Protection Services Professionals’ Views on the school’s Mission and Responsibilities for Children Living with Domestic Violence – Tensions and Gaps

Children Exposed to Violence: Child Custody and its Effects on Children in Intimate Partner Violence Related Cases in Hungary

What Do Adolescents Believe About Performing and Accepting Intimate Partner Violence Behaviors? A Reasoned Action Approach

Coexistence of Intimate Partner Violence and Child Maltreatment among Adolescents in Kosovo