• 324-01 - Reciprocal Pathways Between Partner Aggression and Sleep in Men and Women
  Presented by: Amy Rauer, Mona El-Sheikh
• 324-02 - Children as Forgotten Victims of Domestic Violence: Symptoms and Abuse
  Presented by: Yun Jung Yang, Jeffrey Wherry, Cassandra Huey, Libby Medford
• 324-03 - Gender Discrimination and Sexual Abuse in Tanzania: Implications for Change in a Rural Community
  Presented by: Rachel Hagues
• 324-04 - Predictors of Abuse Among Pregnant and Parenting Adolescents
  Presented by: Michelle Toews, Ani Yazedjian

Abstracts

Reciprocal Pathways Between Partner Aggression and Sleep in Men and Women

Presented by: Amy Rauer, Mona El-Sheikh

Towards explicating directionality of effects between relationship processes and a fundamental facet of health, we examined cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between the perpetration of inter-partner aggression and couples' sleep in a diverse community sample of 215 couples. A dyadic path analysis revealed that sleep problems predicted increases in the perpetration of psychological aggression over time for both spouses. Further, men's sleep problems were strongly affected by their partner's earlier perpetration of psychological aggression and sleep difficulties. Findings have implications for those wishing to understand the etiology and health consequences of the perpetration of partner aggression for both men and women.

Children as Forgotten Victims of Domestic Violence: Symptoms and Abuse

Presented by: Yun Jung Yang, Jeffrey Wherry, Cassandra Huey, Libby Medford

Goals: To use parent/self-report in assessing trauma in children exposed to DV/abuse.  Methods: Children/mothers completed questionnaires regarding physical abuse/DV and trauma symptoms.  Results: Parent t-scores of symptoms were higher than child self-report in four domains.  Females exhibited more symptoms according to self-report and parent ratings.  Parent/self-reports were correlated with the observation and experience of DV on clinical scales.  There was no agreement between 35% of parents and children for violence with the child indicating abuse.  Implications: The conclusions were unanticipated and support a trauma history and assessment of children who have lived in homes characterized by DV. 

Gender Discrimination and Sexual Abuse in Tanzania: Implications for Change in a Rural Community

Presented by: Rachel Hagues

In sub-Saharan Africa, girls forced to have sex against their will often lose more than their virginity. With high HIV prevalence rates, girls are at serious risk for contracting HIV. Through qualitative research in a Tanzanian community, my research discovers factors in adolescent girls’ lives that serve as protective factors leading to resilient outcomes or risk factors leading to negative outcomes. Using the ecological-transactional model (Chiccheti & Toth, 2000), I will discuss recommendations for policy and intervention at the individual, micro, meso, and macro level. If acted on, such policies could save and empower a generation of girls.

Predictors of Abuse Among Pregnant and Parenting Adolescents

Presented by: Michelle Toews, Ani Yazedjian

The purpose of this study was to examine predictors of psychological and physical abuse among 212 primarily Hispanic pregnant or parenting adolescents. We found adolescents who engaged in negative communication patterns with parents, experienced psychological abuse by partners, and used physical abuse with partners were more likely to use psychological abuse. Adolescents who experienced physical abuse were less likely to use psychological abuse. We also found adolescents who used psychological abuse with partners and experienced physical abuse from partners were more likely to use physical abuse. Adolescents who experienced psychological abuse by partners were less likely to use physical abuse.