Below: Path analysis of lifetime victimization and aggression. ** p ≤ 0.01. R2 values: adolescent victimization = 0.44, adulthood victimization = 0.47, adolescent aggression = 0.56, adulthood aggression = 0.30 (all significant at p < 0.01). Model controls for effects of sex and race/ethnicity.
The connections between early maltreatment and later aggression are well established in the literature, however gaps remain in our understanding of developmental processes. This study investigates the cascading life course linkages between victimization experiences from childhood through early adulthood and later aggressive behavior. The diverse, at-risk sample is of particular importance to child and adolescent specialists, as it represents highly vulnerable youth accessible through conventional school settings. In addition to direct pathways from proximal life periods, path analysis revealed significant indirect mediated pathways through which earlier life victimization contributes to aggressive behaviors in later life periods as well as revictimization.
Multivariate regressions support theorized cumulative effects of multi-form victimization as well as distinct contributions of victimization domains (emotional, witnessing, physical, property, and sexual) in explaining aggressive behavior. Consistent with theorizing about the developmental impact of early maltreatment, results bolster the importance of interrupting pathways from victimization to revictimization and later aggression. Findings are evaluated in light of implications for early identification and prevention programming.
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By: Patricia Logan-Greene, Paula S. Nurius, Carole Hooven, and Elaine Adams Thompson
This study examined differences in offending behavior and psychosocial problems between juvenile offenders who have been sexually abused (n=231), physically abused (n=1,568), neglected (n=1,555), exposed to multiple forms of maltreatment (n=1,767), and non-victims (n=8,492). In addition, the moderating effect of gender in the association between type of maltreatment and offending behavior/psychosocial problems was examined.
Results showed that violent offenses were more common in victims of physical abuse and victims of multiple forms of abuse than in non-victims, both in boys and girls. In boys, sexual offenses were far more common in victims of sexual abuse than in victims of other or multiple forms of maltreatment or in non-victims. In girls, no group differences were found in sexual offending behavior. For both boys and girls, externalizing problems were relatively common in victims of physical abuse and neglect whereas internalizing problems were relatively common in victims of sexual abuse.
In victims of multiple forms of maltreatment, both internalizing and externalizing problems were relatively common. Implications for clinical practice are discussed.
Via: http://ht.ly/RRnO6
By: van der Put CE1, Lanctôt N2, de Ruiter C3, van Vugt E1.
- 1Department of Forensic Child and Youth Care Sciences, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- 2Department of Psychoeducation, University of Sherbrooke, Canada.
- 3Department of Forensic Psychology Section, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, The Netherlands.
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