title: Gender differences in caregiver-child relationship mediation of the association between violence exposure severity and adolescent behavior problems.
abstract: The main objectives of this study were to investigate (1) the relationship between mild, moderate, and severe violence exposure in the home and behavior problems in adolescents; (2) the caregiver-child relationship as a potential mediator in this relationship; and (3) gender differences. A series of path analyses were conducted using a sample drawn from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NCSAW-I) of 848 adolescents (ages 11-15) who had been reported to Child Protective Services for maltreatment and who remained in their homes. Exposure to violence and the caregiver-child relationship were reported by adolescents. Both caregiver ratings and adolescent self-reports were used to assess adolescents' behavior problems. Path analysis indicated that exposure to mild and severe violence was directly associated with higher levels of child-reported behavior problems. However, exposure to violence was not directly associated with caregiver ratings of adolescent behavior problems. The caregiver-child relationship mediated the relationship between mild and moderate violence on both caregiver and child-reported adolescent behavior problems. Gender differences also emerged; for girls, the caregiver-child relationship mediated the effects of mild and moderate violence, whereas for boys, it mediated the effects of severe violence on behavior problems. Study findings suggest caregiver-child relationships as a critical underlying mechanism in the association between violence exposure and adolescent behavior problems, highlighting the importance of adding the caregiver-child relationship factor to intervention efforts.
authors.affiliation: Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, USA.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, USA.
authors.forename: Julia M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kobulsky
authors.affiliation: Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, USA.
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Voith
authors.affiliation: Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, USA.
authors.forename: Stacey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Steigerwald
authors.affiliation: Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, USA.
authors.forename: Megan R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Holmes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000523:psychology*; D000069581:Exposure to Violence / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D012737:Sex Factors
keywords: Adolescents; Behavior problems; Caregiver–child relationships; Gender difference; Violence exposure in the home