Problems of Forensic Sciences 2017 Vol. 112 (CXII) 155-175
CHARACTERISTICS OF CHILDREN EXPERIENCING DIRECT AND INDIRECT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ABUSE
Danuta RODE1, Magdalena M. RODE2
1SWPS University of the Social Sciences and the Humanities, Katowice, Poland
2Department of Pedagogy and Psychology, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
Streszczenie
The paper aims at defining the psychological characteristics of children victimized in the family, i.e. victims of abuse and witnessing interparental violence. Coping with stress among the abused children was compared to those brought up in non-abusive families.
So far, subject literature and the research conducted concentrate mainly on children abused in the family, while examining children witnessing violence is still uncommon and atypical.
When analysed, the results showed that the children who experience abuse in the family reveal higher trait anxiety and also higher trait outwardly directed anger, and a lower sense of self-efficacy. However, the children as ‘witnesses’ of violence have a lower anxiety level in comparison to the victimized group. Besides, they show a higher level of efficacy, an absence of clear expression of anger, or its hiding/suppression. The research made it possible to define the predictors of coping strategies by children suffering domestic violence and those from non-abusive families.
Słowa kluczowe
Children as victims of domestic violence; Children as witnesses of domestic violence; Traumatic experiences; Coping strategies; Predictors of coping strategies.