The Association Between Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence and Child Bullying Behaviors

Abstract

Childhood exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with numerous negative outcomes such as externalizing behavior problems, including bullying. However, most prior research examining the relationship between IPV exposure and bullying has relied on relatively small, unrepresentative samples and did not examine this relationship in the context of additional family dynamics and adverse stressors. Using cross-sectional data from the 2011/12 National Survey of Children’s Health, a nationally representative sample of 95,677 families, we conducted hierarchical multiple regression analysis to examine the association between parent-reported child exposure to IPV and bullying behavior within the context of multiple stressors and dynamics at the level of the child, family, and community. Results indicate a significant relationship exists between IPV exposure and bullying, which remained significant after accounting for additional stressors and family dynamics (b = 0.17, SE = 0.04, p < .001). Bullying behavior was also significantly associated with a wide range of other demographic and family functioning variables. Findings confirm a relationship between IPV exposure and bullying behavior within a large, nationally representative sample. Further, the relationship between IPV exposure and bullying behavior remained significant after accounting for additional family, child and community stressors and dynamics. Recommendations for future research are discussed.