Single Types of Family Violence Victimization and Externalizing Behaviors Among Children and Adolescents

Prior research has provided substantial evidence that child maltreatment and exposure to physical intimate partner violence
(IPV) are associated with increased externalizing behavior problems among children and adolescents. However, little is known
about the effects of exposure to psychological IPV and exposure to the physical abuse of a sibling. Using a total sample (N = 2,572) and subsample (n = 441) of children ages 3–18 years old, the purpose of this study was to assess whether cumulative types of family violence
lead to higher mean externalizing behavior scores and to examine the effects of single types of indirect and direct family
violence on children’s mean externalizing behavior scores. Results confirmed that children who experienced any type of family
violence victimization had higher mean externalizing behavior scores compared to children with no history of family violence;
however, few differences in externalizing behavior scores were found as the number of family violence types increased. Children
who experienced indirect types of family violence (e.g., exposure to the physical abuse of a sibling) had higher externalizing
behavior scores than children who experienced direct maltreatment (e.g., child physical abuse). Findings from this study suggest
that researchers and service providers should adopt a broader conceptualization of family violence victimization and increase
the amount of services provided to children who are indirectly victimized.