Witnessing Interparental Violence, Parenting Practices, and Children´s Long-Term Psychological Distress

The first objective of this study was to examine the relationship between witnessing interparental violence and children´s long-term psychological distress, and the extent to which this relation is mediated by deteriorating parenting practices (i.e., harsh discipline, affection/support, interparenta...

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Main Authors: Manuel Gámez-Guadix, Carmen Almendros
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2011-07-01
Series:Psychosocial Intervention
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.copmadrid.org/webcopm/publicaciones/social/in2011v20n2a1.pdf
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author Manuel Gámez-Guadix
Carmen Almendros
author_facet Manuel Gámez-Guadix
Carmen Almendros
author_sort Manuel Gámez-Guadix
collection DOAJ
description The first objective of this study was to examine the relationship between witnessing interparental violence and children´s long-term psychological distress, and the extent to which this relation is mediated by deteriorating parenting practices (i.e., harsh discipline, affection/support, interparental and intraparental consistency). The second objective was to analyze the possible gender differences in the relationships specified. The sample comprised 680 Spanish university students (62.4% females) selected by random, stratified, and proportional sampling (by faculty and sex). Participants retrospectively reported the physical and psychological violence perpetrated by one of his or her parents against the other, the parenting practices when they were preadolescents, and the psychological distress during the past two weeks. Results revealed that harsh discipline and the level of affection and affection/support partially mediated the association between children´s witnessing interparental violence and their long-term psychological distress. These relationships were not significantly different as a function of participants´ sex. Lastly, we discuss the implications of these findings for the planning and development of intervention programs.
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spelling doaj.art-50d1a6b6dd6e4990ad6492ab3690d56a2022-12-22T00:10:36ZengColegio Oficial de Psicólogos de MadridPsychosocial Intervention1132-05592173-47122011-07-0120212113010.5093/in2011v20n2a111320559Witnessing Interparental Violence, Parenting Practices, and Children´s Long-Term Psychological DistressManuel Gámez-GuadixCarmen AlmendrosThe first objective of this study was to examine the relationship between witnessing interparental violence and children´s long-term psychological distress, and the extent to which this relation is mediated by deteriorating parenting practices (i.e., harsh discipline, affection/support, interparental and intraparental consistency). The second objective was to analyze the possible gender differences in the relationships specified. The sample comprised 680 Spanish university students (62.4% females) selected by random, stratified, and proportional sampling (by faculty and sex). Participants retrospectively reported the physical and psychological violence perpetrated by one of his or her parents against the other, the parenting practices when they were preadolescents, and the psychological distress during the past two weeks. Results revealed that harsh discipline and the level of affection and affection/support partially mediated the association between children´s witnessing interparental violence and their long-term psychological distress. These relationships were not significantly different as a function of participants´ sex. Lastly, we discuss the implications of these findings for the planning and development of intervention programs.http://www.copmadrid.org/webcopm/publicaciones/social/in2011v20n2a1.pdfmalestar psicológicoprácticas de crianzaviolencia entre los padres
spellingShingle Manuel Gámez-Guadix
Carmen Almendros
Witnessing Interparental Violence, Parenting Practices, and Children´s Long-Term Psychological Distress
Psychosocial Intervention
malestar psicológico
prácticas de crianza
violencia entre los padres
title Witnessing Interparental Violence, Parenting Practices, and Children´s Long-Term Psychological Distress
title_full Witnessing Interparental Violence, Parenting Practices, and Children´s Long-Term Psychological Distress
title_fullStr Witnessing Interparental Violence, Parenting Practices, and Children´s Long-Term Psychological Distress
title_full_unstemmed Witnessing Interparental Violence, Parenting Practices, and Children´s Long-Term Psychological Distress
title_short Witnessing Interparental Violence, Parenting Practices, and Children´s Long-Term Psychological Distress
title_sort witnessing interparental violence parenting practices and children´s long term psychological distress
topic malestar psicológico
prácticas de crianza
violencia entre los padres
url http://www.copmadrid.org/webcopm/publicaciones/social/in2011v20n2a1.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT manuelgamezguadix witnessinginterparentalviolenceparentingpracticesandchildrenslongtermpsychologicaldistress
AT carmenalmendros witnessinginterparentalviolenceparentingpracticesandchildrenslongtermpsychologicaldistress