Child Physical Abuse, Non-anemic Iron Deficiency and Behavior Problems

There is a current lack of data on the relation between childhood abuse and behavior problems in recently immigrated Latino youth and potential protective factors. This study sought to assess rates of abuse, explore relations between abuse and behavior problems, and examine peer attachment as a possible moderator in 76 recently immigrated high school students. High rates of prior abuse were observed: 36.84% emotional abuse, 22.37% physical abuse, and 9.21% sexual abuse. Emotional abuse was associated with conduct problems (B = 4.19, 95% CI [3.88, 9.39], t = 2.23, p = .028). In the context of physical abuse, peer attachment played a significant, mitigating role on conduct problems (B = −.02, 95% CI [−.05, .00], t = −1.10, p = .049). Results require replication but suggest a critical need for attention to immigrant youth as a highly victimized sample with a high risk for conduct problems.

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Exposure to partner violence and child behavior problems: A prospective study controlling for child physical abuse and neglect, child cognitive ability, socioeconomic status, and life stress

Development and Psychopathology ◽

10.1017/s0954579403000117 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 199-218 ◽

Cited By ~ 108

Author(s):

TUPPETT M. YATES ◽

MICHELE F. DODDS ◽

L. ALAN SROUFE ◽

BYRON EGELAND

Keyword(s):

Socioeconomic Status ◽

Behavior Problems ◽

Cognitive Ability ◽

Physical Abuse ◽

Child Behavior ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Life Stress ◽

Child Behavior Problems ◽

Child Physical Abuse ◽

Multiple Informants

Previous research suggests an association between partner violence and child behavior problems. However, methodological shortcomings have precluded the formation of directional conclusions. These limitations include failure to control for the effects of child physical abuse and general life stress, employment of nonrepresentative samples from battered women's shelters, and reliance on a single contemporaneous reporter, usually the mother, for information on both independent and dependent measures. This study used prospective, longitudinal data (N = 155) and multiple informants to examine the relation between maternal reports of partner violence in the home and teacher- and youth-report ratings of concurrent and prospective child behavior problems. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were used to control for the effects of child physical abuse, child physical neglect, socioeconomic status, child cognitive ability, and life stress. The contribution of partner violence to child behavior problems was confirmed for boys' (n = 81) externalizing problems and girls' (n = 74) internalizing problems. Child developmental status at the time of exposure further influenced these relations. For boys, behavior problems in middle childhood were most strongly related to contemporaneous partner violence, whereas behavior problems among both boys and girls at age 16 were most strongly related to partner violence exposure during the preschool years.

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