Citation

Hanson RF, Self-Brown S, Fricker-Elhai AE, Kilpatrick DG, Saunders BE, Resnick HS. Child Maltreat. 2006; 11(1): 3-15.

Affiliation

Medical University of South Carolina, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1077559505279295

PMID

16382087

Abstract

A national household probability sample of 4,023 adolescents (ages 12 to 17) completed telephone interviews assessing demographics, adverse family environment, and violence exposure. Logistic regressions examined relations among family environment and each violence exposure type, controlling for demographics and other violence exposures. Relationships between family environment and violence exposure varied, depending on type of violence reported, most notably between intrafamilial versus extrafamilial violence. After controlling for family environment, exposure to one violence type significantly increased the likelihood of other violence exposures. Family substance use and not always living with a natural parent were significantly associated with all three types of violence exposure. Findings indicate that clinical assessments should include a thorough evaluation of family environment and violence exposure and also highlight the need for treatment to focus on the adolescent and broader family unit. Future research is needed to further examine these complex interrelationships and their associations with adolescent outcomes.