annotated bibliography of new zealand research into family violence

Children as victims, Mental healthAbstract: This study explored the relationships between exposure to parental violence duringchildhood and psychosocial adjustment in young adulthood. The data was drawn from an 18-year longitudinal study of a birth cohort with 1,025 participants responding. At 18 years ofage, information was gathered from participants regarding their exposure to interparentalviolence, and an assessment was made of each individual’s psychosocial adjustment. Thisincluded looking at participants’ mental wellbeing, substance abuse and criminal offending.Factors such as family socioeconomic background, family functioning, and experience ofchild abuse were also collected. Results show that young people who reported to have a highlevel of exposure to interparental violence had increased adjustment problems. Different typesof adjustment problems are identified for participants who were exposed to mother initiatedviolence more than father initiated violence. The authors conclude that children exposed tohigh levels of interparental violence are at risk of experiencing adjustment difficulties.Fergusson, D. M., Horwood, L. J., & Lynskey, M. T. (1997). Childhood sexual abuse, adolescentsexual behaviours and sexual revictimization. Child Abuse and Neglect, 21(8), 789-803.See: www.nzfvc.org.nz/12970.pubTopic Areas: Sexual abuse, Sexual assault/rape, Families, Adolescents, Young persons,PregnancyAbstract: This article examines whether exposure to childhood sexual abuse is linked withadolescent sexual risk-taking and sexual revictimization. The subjects for this research were asample of 520 females from the longitudinal Christchurch Health and Development Study,who were studied up to the of age 18. Data was gathered pertaining to retrospective accountsof childhood sexual abuse, sexual experiences in adolescence, and the participants’ childhoodand family background. The results show that young females disclosing childhood sexualabuse had higher rates of early sexual activity, teenage pregnancy, and further sexual assault.The findings also indicate that familial factors, such as poor parent-child relations, areconnected with childhood sexual abuse and greater sexual risk-taking in adolescence.Limitations of the study are discussed, including the retrospective nature of the data.Fergusson, D. M., Horwood, L. J., & Ridder, E. (2005). Partner violence and mental health outcomesin a New Zealand birth cohort. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 67(5), 1103-1119.Retrieved February 2, 2006, from http://www.chmeds.ac.nz/research/chds/pub2001_ 3.htmSee: www.nzfvc.org.nz/13051.pubTopic Areas: Intimate partner abuse, Physical abuse, Psychological/emotional abuse, Youngpersons, Perpetrators/offenders, Victims/survivors, Gender, Mental health, Policy,Demographics/statisticsAbstract: This article explores the relationship between domestic violence and mental healthoutcomes. A birth cohort involved in the longitudinal Christchurch Health and DevelopmentStudy provided the data for this study. One thousand and three participants were assessed atage 25, and measures of domestic violence and mental health were recorded. The findingsindicate that men and women had similar rates of victimisation and perpetration of partnerabuse, exposure to domestic violence had a positive relationship with mental disorders, andmental health outcomes were similar for men and women. Implications for policy arediscussed, and the authors seek to dispell the myth that domestic violence is gendered,typically involving a male offender and a female victim.62