Publication year
2014
Citation Title
Parent-to-child physical aggression, neighborhood cohesion, and development of children's internalizing and externalizing.
Journal Name
Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology
Journal Volume
35
Issue Number
6
Page Numbers
468-477
Summary
Parental aggressiveness towards a child, even in a mild form, can lead to higher levels of internalizing and externalizing problems. Parent-child physical aggression characterized as physical acts which can range from slapping, spanking, beating, burning, and scalding. This study evaluated the impact of parent-child physical aggression, age and neighborhood cohesiveness on levels of internalizing and externalizing problems. Results showed that parent-child physical aggression has a positive relationship with both internalizing and externalizing problems, while cohesiveness of a child's neighborhood only reduced levels of internalizing problems for maltreated children.
Key Findings
Parent-child physical aggression and the level of internalizing problems as well as parent-child physical aggression and the level of of externalizing had a significant positive associations.
Children who were maltreated in high cohesion neighborhoods experienced significant lower levels of internalizing problems in comparison to children who are maltreated in low cohesion neighborhoods.
Low cohesion neighborhoods did not impact levels of externalizing problems in children who experienced parent-child physical aggression.
Implications for Military Professionals
Collaborate with local organizations to develop programs that increase neighborhood cohesiveness
Facilitate support groups for military children who are victims of parent-child physical aggression
Implications for Program Leaders
Educate military parents who have a history of parent-child physical aggression on alternative and effective ways to discipline their child
Provide resources for older maltreated children on how to work through their internalized and externalized problems in a healthy manner
Implications for Policy Makers
Recommend integrating parenting education on discipline and anger management into existing service delivery systems for military families
Recommend professional education for health care providers on different types of behavior problems that affect different age groups who suffer from parent-child physical aggression
Methods
Participants were recruited from the Project on Human Development in Chicago neighborhoods, from which a random sample was taken by a data collectors who visited their homes.
In order to qualify to participate in the longitudinal cohort survey, the caregiver must have had a child who is within six months of the target ages (0,3,6,9,12,15 and 18 years old) and for the community survey the individual must be a resident of the neighborhood who is over the age of 18 years.
Participants completed surveys on either child and family characteristics as well as internalizing and externalizing behaviors or on neighborhood cohesion.
Researchers analyzed associations between parent-child physical aggression, child age, neighborhood cohesion, and the levels of internalizing and externalizing problems.
Participants
Participants were residents of randomly selected households in Chicago.
A total of 6,228 caregivers and their children participated in the study.
Eighty thousand, seven hundred eighty-two adults responded to a survey about their neighborhood's cohesiveness.
The caregivers surveyed were 14.32% White, 48.13% Hispanic, 33.77% Black and 3.78% other.
Limitations
Data do not provide information on when parent-child physical aggression first occurred for children, and duration of parent-child physical aggression could have effected the level of internalized and externalized problems, which was not accounted for in this study.
Data were based on caregiver reports on parent-child physical aggression and children's adjustment causing potential response bias, especially if the caregiver perpetrated parent-child physical aggression.
Participants were only from the city of Chicago, which could limit the generalization of the study.
Avenues for Future Research
Collect data on when parent-child physical aggression first occurred, allowing for onset of parent-child physical aggression to be analyzed as a factor contributing to the level of internalized and externalized problems
Gather information from primary caregivers and children on maltreatment and children's adjustment to eliminate potential biases
Conduct data collection in multiple cities across the United States, allowing for generalization of findings to a national population
Focus
Civilian
Target Population
Population Focus
Abstract
Taking a risk and resilience approach, this study examined (1) whether child age moderates the association between exposure to parent–child physical aggression (PCPA) and initial levels and growth in internalizing and externalizing problems, and (2) whether neighborhood social cohesion is a protective factor for children who experience PCPA. Data came from 2810 caregivers of children aged 3–15 who participated in the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN). Multilevel growth models showed that age moderated
PCPA's association with internalizing problems, such that the association was stronger in older children than
in younger children. Age also moderated PCPA's association with externalizing problems, such that the association was stronger in younger children than in older children. Neighborhood cohesion partially attenuated the association between PCPA and internalizing but only for older children; living in a neighborhood characterized by high cohesion mitigated levels of internalizing for maltreated children aged 11 years and older.
PCPA's association with internalizing problems, such that the association was stronger in older children than
in younger children. Age also moderated PCPA's association with externalizing problems, such that the association was stronger in younger children than in older children. Neighborhood cohesion partially attenuated the association between PCPA and internalizing but only for older children; living in a neighborhood characterized by high cohesion mitigated levels of internalizing for maltreated children aged 11 years and older.
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