UC Berkeley

This study examined the direct and interactive effects of domestic and community violence exposure on young children's behavioral functioning in a low SES, multi-ethnic sample of 143 single mothers and their young children (age two to six years). This study also investigated the role of maternal responsiveness to children's sad and angry emotions as either a moderator or mediator of the effects of violence exposure on children's behavioral adaptation. The sample was composed of clinical (n = 111) and community (n = 32) subsamples. Approximately 77% of the children had been exposed to domestic violence perpetrated against the mother during the year prior to data collection.

Findings indicate that, after controlling for maternal ethnicity and maternal age, community violence exposure significantly predicted internalizing, externalizing, and total behavior problems above and beyond that predicted by domestic violence. After controlling for maternal ethnicity, maternal age, and community violence exposure, domestic violence exposure significantly predicted internalizing behavior problems. However, domestic violence exposure did not moderate the direct effects of community violence exposure on young children's behavioral functioning. Maternal responsiveness did not moderate or mediate the effects of either domestic or community violence exposure on children's internalizing, externalizing, or total behavior problems and was not related to child behavioral functioning. These findings suggest that both domestic and community violence exposure are risk factors for young children's social and emotional development. The findings also highlight the importance of including both forms of violence exposure in assessments of young, high-risk children experiencing behavioral problems.