Children's exposure to intimate partner violence and peer bullying victimization

Abstract

Research has shown that children who are exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) at young ages experience higher than average rates of cognitive, emotional and interpersonal impairments. Our research uses the first five waves of the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study to examine the effects of children's exposure to IPV during early childhood (years 1 and 3), as measured by their mothers' self reports of physical violence and economic abuse, on their likelihood of experiencing peer bullying at age 9. Results indicate that early exposure to IPV was associated with higher levels of peer bullying victimization in later childhood, and that physical punishment at year 5 was shown to have significant mediation effects on peer bullying victimization at year 9. Results indicate that the effects of IPV were particularly strong for boys, and were stronger among black children, with no significant effects on white or Hispanic children. For girls, the level of peer bullying at year 9 marginally increased when their mothers had experienced economic abuse at years 1–3. Given the impacts of peer bullying victimization on children's well-being and later achievement, these findings may have important implications for early intervention strategies.