Alison Marganski
Professor, Le Moyne College
Key Findings
- Adolescents that were victims of physical abuse showed more anxiety, higher rates of outward anger, and a lower sense of self-efficacy than adolescents that were victims of parental IPV.
- Victims of parental IPV had lower rates of anxiety, higher levels of inward anger, and a greater sense of strength and preservation than adolescents that were victims of physical abuse.
- There were no significant differences between victims of physical violence and parental IPV on coping with stress.
- Adolescents that are victims of different types of abuse have different outcomes and require different treatments.
Description
In the article, “The Impact of Physical Abuse & Exposure to Parental IPV on Young Adolescents in Poland: a Clinical Assessment and Comparison of Psychological Outcomes,” Marganski and her co-authors examine the psychological effects that physical abuse and parental intimate partner violence (IPV) have on adolescents. The researchers collected data from 90 Polish adolescents aged 11-14 using a quota sampling method and divided the adolescents into three groups: victims of physical abuse, victims of parental IPV, and a control group. The researchers surveyed the adolescents to compare the mental state and emotions of each victim in comparison to the control group. The results found that adolescents that were victims of physical abuse showed more anxiety, higher rates of outward anger, and a lower sense of self-efficacy than adolescents that were victims of parental IPV. Victims of parental IPV had lower rates of anxiety, higher levels of inward anger, and a greater sense of strength and preservation than adolescents that were victims of physical abuse. There were no significant differences between victims of physical violence and parental IPV on coping with stress. The authors note that adolescents that are victims of different types of abuse have different outcomes and require different treatments. They recommend that in the future, additional research should focus on tailoring treatment for victims of violence.