Differential Adjustment Among Rural Adolescents Exposed to Family Violence

This study examines differences in psychological adjustment in a sample of rural adolescents who have been exposed to family violence. Self-report questionnaires were administered to 580 adolescents and their primary caregivers. The results revealed that over two thirds of the study participants (68...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of interpersonal violence 2019-02, Vol.34 (4), p.712-740
Main Authors: Sianko, Natallia, Hedge, Jasmine M., McDonell, James R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Psychological
Adjustment
Adolescent
Adolescents
Caregivers
Cluster Analysis
Discriminant Analysis
Domestic violence
Domestic Violence - psychology
Family Relations - psychology
Family Violence
Female
Humans
Male
Multivariate Analysis
Neighborhoods
Parent participation
Parent School Relationship
Parents
Parents & parenting
Rural areas
Rural Population - statistics & numerical data
Social Support
Southeastern United States
Surveys and Questionnaires
Teenagers
Violence
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Summary:This study examines differences in psychological adjustment in a sample of rural adolescents who have been exposed to family violence. Self-report questionnaires were administered to 580 adolescents and their primary caregivers. The results revealed that over two thirds of the study participants (68.8%) had been exposed to violence in their families. As hypothesized, cluster analysis identified several profiles among adolescents, distinguished by their psychological and emotional functioning: well adjusted (46.2%), moderately adjusted (44.3%), and struggling (9.5%). Discriminant function analysis confirmed the groupings and revealed that family functioning was among the most influential factors explaining adjustment differences. Multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVAs) further showed that adolescents from each of the three adjustment profiles reported significantly different levels of family social support, parental involvement, and perceived neighborhood safety. Overall, the results confirm heterogeneity of adolescent adaptation in the aftermath of family violence and provide insights into family and neighborhood factors that account for variability in adolescents’ reactions to violence. Implications for future research and practical interventions are discussed.
ISSN:0886-2605
1552-6518
DOI:10.1177/0886260516645574