Exposure To Family Violence Especially Harmful To Previously Abused Children

from http://ritualabuse.us

ScienceDaily (Sep. 19, 2008) - Millions of American children are exposed to violence in their homes each year, putting them at risk for a variety of emotional and behavioral problems. According to a new study in the September/October 2008 issue of the journal Child Development, children who are maltreated tend to have a lot of re-exposure to family violence, and this re-exposure often leads to increased psychological problems. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, University of California, Irvine, and West Chester University found that the types of violence that abused children were subsequently re-exposed to led to specific types of psychological problems. Specifically, previously abused children who witnessed family violence had more symptoms of depression and anxiety, while previously abused children who were subjected to harsh physical discipline were more aggressive and broke rules more frequently. Maikovich et al. Effects of Family Violence on Psychopathology Symptoms in Children Previously Exposed to Maltreatment. Child Development, 2008; 79 (5): 1498 DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2008.01201.x http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080916100930.htm