Academic Correlates of Exposure to Family Violence.

Children's exposure to family violence may lead to increased school difficulties, as shown in studies demonstrating the relationship between children's adjustment disorders and stressful family events. To examine the unique effects of violence on children's cognition, this study compared the academic performance and conflict levels of two groups of children, ages 6 to 12, and their mothers: those living in battered women's shelters and those in homeless shelters. Seventy-three families (113 children) from battered women's shelters and 55 families (82 children) from homeless shelters completed a variety of tests including the Conflict Tactics Scale, the General Health Questionnaire and the Child Behavior checklist. The children completed the Wide Range Achievement Test, the Digit Scan, and the Children's Locus of Control Scale. Few significant differences were found among the children's test results; in addition, the results were similar for homeless shelter children with no violence in their histories and for those with past exposure to violence (not within the past year). The prediction that extreme family violence would lead to extremely poor school performance also was not supported. Furthermore, when families were retested 10 months after leaving the battered women's shelter, no changes were found in children's cognitive performance. Although children in shelter situations do experience school difficulties, the data demonstrate that school performance is not uniquely affected by family violence. (Contains 12 references.) (CH) ******************************************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * ******************************************************************************** Academic Correlates of Exposure to Family Violence Timothy E. Moore Joy Andres Debra J. Pep ler . U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. La Marsh Research Centre on Violence and Conflict Resolution York University (paper presented at the Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Conference, Washington, DC, April 3, 1997) This paper explores some academic correlates of exposure to family violence. Numerous studies have demonstrated that children's adjustment disorders are strongly associated with chronic stressful events in the family. These include wife battering (Jaffe, Wolfe, & Wilson, 1990), non-violent marital conflict (Emery, 1989; Grych, & Fincham, 1990), and homelessness (Masten, 1992; Rescorla, Parker, and Stolley, 1991). Children in shelters for battered women have been found to exhibit high levels of both externalizing (e.g., aggressiveness, delinquency) and internalizing (e.g., anxiety, withdrawal) behaviors, and lower levels of social competence, compared to children from nonviolent families (Jaffe, et al., 1990). When physical violence between parents becomes chronic within a family, it is highly probable that Various other factors are also present that might predispose children to adjustment problems and academic difficulties. We hypothesized that shelter children might have increased academic problems because of the psychological toll of having to cope with interparental conflict. Possible contributing factors include disrupted routines, absenteeism, lack of concentration, fatigue, anxiety, a learned response of inattention, and attenuated contact with one or both parents. Are cognitive difficulties uniquely associated with exposure to family violence, L ST COPY AVAILABLE PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY Mo(yr<z. TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES 2 INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) Academic correlates of family violence compared to other types of risk? If so, might these problems decrease when violence subsides? Method Participants Participants were children in the age range of 6 to 12 years, and their mothers. Data were collected on 113 children of mothers residing in several shelters for battered women (Shelter group), and 82 children of mothers residing in housing hostels (Homeless group). Shelter and Housing residents were recruited by means of notice-board announcements posted in the residences and/or through resident staff soliciting their participation. Only mothers reporting no inter-spousal violence within the previous 12 months were included in the Homeless group. Demographic characteristics of each group are presented on Overhead 1. Procedure Individual interviews were conducted separately and simultaneously for mothers and children. Shelter mothers and children were tested at the shelter within three weeks of their arrival. Housing mothers and their children were interviewed in the housing hostels. The research was described to the participants as a survey of family problem-solving tactics and child development. A brief description of the testing instruments was provided to mothers expressing interest in participating. Consent was obtained by explaining to mothers that they could terminate the interview at any point, and that confidentiality of the data was assured, with the proviso that the researchers were required by lawto report any suspected instances of child abuse to child welfare authorities. It is possible that some mothers may have declined participation in order to avoid possible legal complications. The measures described below were completed by all participating mothers and their children. Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS) (Straus, 1979) The CTS provided a measure of the use of verbal aggression and physical violence between family members during the previous year. Conflict tactics were assessed between parents, Academic correlates of family violence between each parent and each child in the target age range, and between children. Mothers also indicated the frequency and severity of abusive parentto-child behaviors. Verbal aggression included insults, swearing, and physical threats. Physical aggression included pushing, grabbing, shoving, hitting, slapping, choking, and threatening with or using weapons. General Health Questionnaire-30 (GHQ) (Goldberg & Hillier, 1979). The GHQ is a self-report measure designed to assess general psychological health or illness in community-based individuals. The instrument focuses on interruptions in normal functioning, and or the appearance of new symptoms of a distressing nature. Mothers were instructed to report on whether they had recently (past few weeks) experienced a particular symptom. The 4-point response scale ranges from "less than usual" to "much more than usual". Scores of 5 or more are considered indicators of mental health problems, and scores exceeding 10 indicate immediate need for intervention. Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) (Achenbach, & Edelbrock, 1983). In this paper only the Social Competence scale, and its components (Activities, Social, and School) will be discussed. The following tests were administered to the children: Wide Range Achievement Test Revised (Jastak & Wilkinson, 1984). The Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT-R) was designed to measure scholastic achievement ranging from kindergarten to college. The measure consists of three scales: reading, spelling, and arithmetic. For this study only the reading and math subscales were used. The reading subscale measures the child's ability to recognize letters and read words in isolation (i.e., out of context). The math subscale assesses the child's ability to recognize and read numbers, solve math problems orally, and perform written computations. Individual performances are compared to standardized age norms with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15. Scores of 80-89 are "low average", 70-79 "borderline", <70 "deficient".