Does Stress Mediate the Relation between Caregivers’ Victimization and Child Behavioral Outcomes? A Prospective Examination

Tre D. Gissandaner, Adam T. Schmidt, Ann Mastergeorge, Jordan A. Gette, Andrew K. Littlefield

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Children with internalizing and externalizing difficulties are at risk for long-term negative effects in adulthood and are impacted by several caregiver factors. Findings of the present study are consistent with previous studies that found direct associations between caregiver victimization history (e.g., physical and sexual abuse) and child behavior problems. Examination of potential mechanisms revealed that caregiver everyday stress related to relationships/responsibilities (RR) served as a mediator between caregiver victimization history and increased children’s internalizing symptoms. Though there may be other pathways that contribute to this relation, there does seem to be clinical and policy utility of this knowledge, particularly for at-risk families that are faced with high levels of everyday RR stress. Attenuation of this impact may be accomplished through connection to community resources such as access to family counseling to mitigate relational stress and policy addressing disparities.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)154-165
Number of pages12
JournalChild Psychiatry and Human Development
Volume52
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2021

Keywords

  • Caregiver victimization
  • Child behavior
  • LONGSCAN
  • Stress

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