Research Proposal
Running head: EFFECTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON MALE AND FEMALE CHILDREN AGES 4-11
What Are the Effects of Domestic Violence on Male and Female Children ages 4-11?
Candace Williams
University of South Carolina
Counseling Education Graduate Program Introduction
Purpose
The purpose of this research proposal is to identify the specific differences in the effects of domestic violence in male and female children ages 4-11.
Justification of Proposed Research Child exposure to adult domestic violence and its effects has increasingly become a concern for both practitioners and researchers. It is estimated that between ten and twenty percent of children in the United States are exposed to domestic violence annually (Carlson, 2008). Domestic violence refers to violence between intimate adult partners. A number of studies have been successful in linking domestic violence exposure to a wide variety of physiological, emotional, and behavioral problems manifested in short-term, midterm, and long term effects (Carlson, 2008). In this study the effects that will be examined are social skills, aggression, and self-esteem. “Young and teenage children who live in domestic violence environments may exhibit no behavioral problems; yet demonstrate other types of problems” (Bourassa, 2007). “Based on social learning theory, parents are highly influential models for their children, who are consequently likely to reproduce the behaviors they observe in their parents” (Bourassa, 2007). Research is inconsistent regarding differences between boys and girls regarding the effects from exposure to parental or interparental violence on behavior. Some studies find boys more likely than girls to display a range of externalizing and internalizing behaviors (Porter & O’Leary 1980; Wolfe et. al. 1985), while other studies find the reverse (Cummings et. al. 1999). Justification is required as to what effects (aggression, social skills, and self-esteem) of
What Are the Effects of Domestic Violence on Male and Female Children ages 4-11?
Candace Williams
University of South Carolina
Counseling Education Graduate Program Introduction
Purpose
The purpose of this research proposal is to identify the specific differences in the effects of domestic violence in male and female children ages 4-11.
Justification of Proposed Research Child exposure to adult domestic violence and its effects has increasingly become a concern for both practitioners and researchers. It is estimated that between ten and twenty percent of children in the United States are exposed to domestic violence annually (Carlson, 2008). Domestic violence refers to violence between intimate adult partners. A number of studies have been successful in linking domestic violence exposure to a wide variety of physiological, emotional, and behavioral problems manifested in short-term, midterm, and long term effects (Carlson, 2008). In this study the effects that will be examined are social skills, aggression, and self-esteem. “Young and teenage children who live in domestic violence environments may exhibit no behavioral problems; yet demonstrate other types of problems” (Bourassa, 2007). “Based on social learning theory, parents are highly influential models for their children, who are consequently likely to reproduce the behaviors they observe in their parents” (Bourassa, 2007). Research is inconsistent regarding differences between boys and girls regarding the effects from exposure to parental or interparental violence on behavior. Some studies find boys more likely than girls to display a range of externalizing and internalizing behaviors (Porter & O’Leary 1980; Wolfe et. al. 1985), while other studies find the reverse (Cummings et. al. 1999). Justification is required as to what effects (aggression, social skills, and self-esteem) of
References: Baldry, A. C. (2007). “It Does Affect Me” Disruptive Behaviors in Preadolescent Directly and Indirectly Abused at Home Becker, K. B., and Mccloskey, L. A. (2002). Attention and Conduct Problems in Children Exposed to Family Violence Effect on the Adolescents’ Behavior. Journal of Family Violence, (Vol. 22, 691-701) Carlson, B.E., (2000) Cummings, J. G., Pepler, D. J., and Moore, T. E. (1999). Behavior Problems in Children Exposed to Wife Abuse: Gender Differences Wolfe, D. A., Jaffe, P., Wilson, S. K., and Zak, L. (1985). Children of Battered Women: The Relation of Child Behavior to Family violence and Maternal stress