Associations Between Experiencing and Witnessing Physical and Psychological Abuse and Internalizing and Externalizing Problems in Yemeni Children

Arwa Alizzy, Esther Calvete*, Brad J. Bushman

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

There is little research on how family violence affects children who live the Arab world. This study had three aims. First, to examine the prevalence of family violence in Yemen. Second, to examine the associations between family violence and internalizing and externalizing problems in Yemeni children. Third, to examine participant gender as a possible moderator. A total of 598 children, 11–16 years old, completed measures of experiencing and witnessing physical and psychological abuse in the home, and reported emotional symptoms and conduct problems. Findings indicate that prevalence rates of all forms of abuse are high among Yemeni children (57.5% experiencing physical abuse, 71.2% psychological abuse, 33.6% witnessing physical abuse, and 78.9% witnessing psychological abuse). Boys experienced more physical and psychological abuse in the home than girls, although the level of physical and psychological abuse children witnessed in the home did not differ for boys and girls. The structural equation model indicated that witnessing psychological abuse was associated with emotional symptoms and conduct problems in children. Experiencing physical abuse was associated with conduct problems, whereas experiencing psychological abuse was associated with emotional symptoms. These associations were similar for boys and girls. These findings suggest that living in an abusive home can have harmful effects on Yemeni children.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)585-593
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Family Violence
Volume32
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Aug 2017

Keywords

  • Conduct problems
  • Emotional symptoms
  • Family violence
  • Physical abuse
  • Psychological abuse
  • Yemeni children

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