title: Family context, victimization, and child trauma symptoms: variations in safe, stable, and nurturing relationships during early and middle childhood.
abstract: Based on a nationally representative sample of 2,017 children age 2-9 years, this study examines variations in "safe, stable, and nurturing" relationships (SSNRs), including several forms of family perpetrated victimization, and documents associations between these factors and child trauma symptoms. Findings show that many children were exposed to multiple forms of victimization within the family (such as physical or sexual abuse, emotional maltreatment, child neglect, sibling victimization, and witnessing family violence), as evidenced by substantial intercorrelations among the different forms of victimization. Moreover, victimization exposure was significantly associated with several indices of parental dysfunction, family adversity, residential instability, and problematic parenting practices. Of all SSNR variables considered, emotional abuse and inconsistent or hostile parenting emerged as having the most powerful independent effects on child trauma symptoms. Also, findings supported a cumulative risk model, whereby trauma symptom levels increased with each additional SSNR risk factor to which children were exposed. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of New Hampshire.
authors.forename: Heather A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.affiliation: University of New Hampshire.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Finkelhor
authors.affiliation: University of New Hampshire.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ormrod
authors.affiliation: Sewanee, University of the South.
authors.forename: Sherry
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hamby
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
authors.forename: Rebecca T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Leeb
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Mercy
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000523:psychology; D004644:Emotions; D005192:Family Health; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States