Spare the rod and save the child: Assessing the impact of parenting on child behaviour and mental health

Parenting has a considerable impact on children’s behaviour and mental health. Improving child health and behaviour requires an understanding of the relationship between parenting practices; contexual factors such asparental mental health, intimate partner violence, substance abuse and poverty; and children’s behaviour. In this article the authors report the findings of a survey of parenting and child behaviour in a small rural South Africancommunity. The findings show that corporal punishment, the stress of parenting and parental mental health are significantly associated with both children’s internalising (depression and anxiety) and externalising (rulebreakingand aggression) symptoms. Intimate partner violence in the home was also associated with children’s externalising symptoms. These findings imply that parent support and training, and an increase in services to address intimate partner violence and mental health problems, should be prioritised as part of a nationalviolence reduction strategy.

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Mental Health Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence Against Women in El Salvador

Violence Against Women ◽

10.1177/1077801220978803 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 107780122097880

Author(s):

Laura Navarro-Mantas ◽

Soledad de Lemus ◽

Jesús L. Megías

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

El Salvador ◽

Violence Against Women ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Common Mental Disorders ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

World Health ◽

The World ◽

The Impact

Violence against women (VAW) is currently one of the main problems in El Salvador, which leads the ranking of femicides in the world. We conducted the first national survey on VAW in El Salvador following the World Health Organization (WHO) methodology, to determine the impact of violence on women’s mental health ( N = 1,274). Women who had experienced intimate partner violence showed significantly poorer mental health and more suicidal ideations. Common mental disorders were significantly associated with the experience of all forms of violence, after adjusting for sociodemographic variables and stressful life experiences. The results are discussed in connection with the primary care protocols and the design of public policies.

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Rethinking Women’s Mental Health After Intimate Partner Violence

Violence Against Women ◽

10.1177/1077801220921937 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 107780122092193

Author(s):

Nicole Moulding ◽

Suzanne Franzway ◽

Sarah Wendt ◽

Carole Zufferey ◽

Donna Chung

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Mixed Methods Research ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Sense Of Self ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Gender Inequalities ◽

Women’S Mental Health ◽

Women's Mental Health

This article reports on mixed methods research into intimate partner violence (IPV) and women’s mental health. Using an online national survey and life history interviews, quantitative and qualitative data analysis demonstrates how IPV negatively impacts women’s sense of self, with other multiple losses in relation to income, work, housing, and social participation further undermining recovery into the long term. The feminist concept of sexual politics is used to critically examine current responses to mental health problems after IPV, and a feminist-informed response is outlined that addresses the gender inequalities underpinning IPV and the psychological distress it produces.

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Factors Associated With Police Decisions on Immediate Responses to Intimate Partner Violence

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/0886260517706762 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 35 (15-16) ◽

pp. 2993-3010 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Merete Berg Nesset ◽

Johan Håkon Bjørngaard ◽

Jim Aage Nøttestad ◽

Richard Whittington ◽

Cecilie Lynum ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Police Officers ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Health Problems ◽

Violence Risk ◽

Lethal Violence ◽

Emergency Situations

Police officers are often the first responders to intimate partner violence. The aim of the study was to examine the association between structured police assessments on-site in cases of intimate partner violence, and decisions about immediate arrest of the perpetrator and/or relocation of the victim. Data were extracted from police reports on 124 emergency visits in cases of intimate partner violence perpetrated by men toward women. Six out of totally 15 items of the intimate partner violence risk assessment measure B-SAFER were used by the front line police officers as the basis for decisions on whether or not to arrest the perpetrator or relocate the victim. The six items: perpetrator violent acts, violent threats or thoughts, escalation of violence, substance use problems, mental health problems, and breach of no-contact order, were selected on the basis of their utility in emergency situations. There were increased odds of arrest on-site if the perpetrator was physically violent (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.0-7.7) or had substance problems (AOR = 2.3, 95% CI = [1.0- 5.2]). There were increased odds of victim relocation if the perpetrator had mental health problems (AOR = 7.4, 95% CI = [2.4-23.1]) or if children were present on-site (AOR = 3.1, 95% CI = [1.1- 8.6]). In contrast, escalation of violence was associated with reduced odds of the perpetrator being arrested (AOR = 0.4, 95% CI = [0.1- 0.9]) or the victim being relocated (AOR = 0.4, 95% CI = [0.1- 1.3]). The finding that the police did not immediately respond to escalation, potentially signaling lethal violence needs to be addressed.

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The Impact of Adverse Childhood Events on the Sexual and Mental Health of Women Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/0886260518802852 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 088626051880285 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Tiara C. Willie ◽

Trace Kershaw ◽

Tami P. Sullivan

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Adverse Childhood Events ◽

Adverse Childhood ◽

The Impact

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Exploring links between common mental health problems, alcohol/substance use and perpetration of intimate partner violence: A rapid ethnographic assessment with men in urban Kenya

Global Mental Health ◽

10.1017/gmh.2017.25 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

A. Schafer ◽

P. Koyiet

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Substance Use ◽

Alcohol Use ◽

Marital Conflict ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

High Stress ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Psychosocial Issues

Introduction:Kenya has some of the highest rates of gender-based violence (GBV) in the world, particularly intimate partner violence. World Vision completed a rapid ethnographic assessment to explore common problems faced by men and local perspectives about the links between men, mental health, alcohol use and GBV.Methods:Data from community free-listing surveys (n = 52), four focus group discussions and two key informant interviews formed the basis for thematic analysis and findings.Results:Lack of jobs, ‘idleness’ and finances were viewed as top priority concerns facing men; however, alcohol and substance use were equally prioritised. Family problems, crime and general psychosocial issues (e.g., high stress, low self-esteem) were also reported. Men withdrawing socially, changing behaviour and increasing alcohol consumption were described as signs that men were experiencing mental health challenges. The community observed alcohol use as the biggest cause of GBV, believing men resorted to drinking because of having ‘too much time’, marital conflict, psychosocial issues and access to alcohol. The findings theorise that a circular link between unemployment, alcohol and crime is likely contributing to familial, psychosocial and gender concerns, and that men's mental health support may assist to re-direct a trajectory for individuals at risk of perpetrating GBV.Conclusions:Data confirmed that GBV is a major concern in these Kenya communities and has direct links with alcohol use, which is subsequently linked to mental health and psychosocial problems. Attempting to disrupt progression to the perpetration of violence by men, via mental health care interventions, warrants further research.

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Correspondence Between Self-Report Measures and Clinician Assessments of Psychopathology in Female Intimate Partner Violence Survivors

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/0886260515589566 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 32 (10) ◽

pp. 1501-1523 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Meghan W. Cody ◽

Judiann M. Jones ◽

Matthew J. Woodward ◽

Catherine A. Simmons ◽

J. Gayle Beck

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

The Self ◽

Self Report ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Event Scale

Intimate partner violence (IPV) has potentially severe and long-lasting mental health consequences for survivors, including elevated symptoms and diagnoses of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The current study examined the relationship between three self-report measures of psychological distress and ratings obtained from the corresponding clinician-administered measures in women seeking assessment for mental health problems following IPV ( N = 185). PTSD symptoms were assessed using the self-report Impact of Event Scale–Revised (IES-R) and the interview-based Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS). Depression symptoms were assessed using the self-report Beck Depression Inventory–II (BDI-II) and the depressive disorders sections from the clinician-administered Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule–IV (ADIS-IV). Anxiety symptoms were assessed using the self-report Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the clinician-administered GAD section from the ADIS-IV. Results indicated that psychological distress was prevalent in the sample, with 27% receiving a PTSD diagnosis, 40% diagnosed with a depressive disorder, and 55% meeting criteria for GAD. Although each self-report measure was significantly and positively correlated with its corresponding clinician-administered measure, rates of diagnostic concordance were mixed. The BDI-II showed a high degree of agreement with the ADIS-IV depression section, but the IES-R and the CAPS were discordant at classifying PTSD. The BAI had acceptable sensitivity but poor specificity in relation to the ADIS-IV GAD section. These findings suggest that multiple assessment modalities should be considered when rating symptoms and estimating the prevalence of diagnoses among survivors of IPV.

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