Bidirectional associations between well-being at school, psychosocial problems and PTSS in children exposed to family violence

Background: Children exposed to family violence are more likely to have lower well-being at school, more psychosocial problems and more post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) than children not exposed. Objective: We examined whether well-being at school, psychosocial problems, and PTSS affect each ot...

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Main Authors: Anna L.C. van Loon-Dikkers, Amaranta D. de Haan, Maartje P.C.M. Luijk, Majone J. Steketee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Child Protection and Practice
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950193824000792
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author Anna L.C. van Loon-Dikkers
Amaranta D. de Haan
Maartje P.C.M. Luijk
Majone J. Steketee
author_facet Anna L.C. van Loon-Dikkers
Amaranta D. de Haan
Maartje P.C.M. Luijk
Majone J. Steketee
author_sort Anna L.C. van Loon-Dikkers
collection DOAJ
description Background: Children exposed to family violence are more likely to have lower well-being at school, more psychosocial problems and more post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) than children not exposed. Objective: We examined whether well-being at school, psychosocial problems, and PTSS affect each other over time in children exposed to family violence. Participants: and Setting: 332 Dutch children aged 8–17 years exposed to family violence (and their parents) who were reached through child protection services (CPS). Methods: Participants completed questionnaires on well-being at school, psychosocial problems, PTSS, and family violence shortly after being reported to CPS and again one year later. A cross-lagged panel model was conducted to examine the relationships between well-being at school, psychosocial problems, and PTSS over time. Findings: PTSS at Time 1 predicted psychosocial problems at Time 2 (β = .14, p < .05), no other cross-lagged effects were significant. Lower well-being at school was concurrently associated with more psychosocial problems and more PTSS at both time points, and more psychosocial problems was also concurrently associated with more PTSS at both occasions. Conclusion: More PTSS in children exposed to violence appears to be related to more psychosocial problems one year later. The concurrent associations between lower well-being at school, more psychosocial problems and more PTSS at both time points, suggest that these aspects do not appear to be independent, but rather interrelated and co-developing over time. The results highlight the importance of paying attention to children's well-being at school among children exposed to family violence.
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spelling doaj-art-a87ae3c65aaa4381a6e206180384bcf22025-08-20T02:49:59ZengElsevierChild Protection and Practice2950-19382024-12-01310007910.1016/j.chipro.2024.100079Bidirectional associations between well-being at school, psychosocial problems and PTSS in children exposed to family violenceAnna L.C. van Loon-Dikkers0Amaranta D. de Haan1Maartje P.C.M. Luijk2Majone J. Steketee3Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies, P.O. Box 1738, 3000 DR, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Verwey-Jonker Institute, Giessenplein 59C, 3522 KE, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Corresponding author. Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, P.O. Box 1738, 3000 DR, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies, P.O. Box 1738, 3000 DR, Rotterdam, the NetherlandsDepartment of Psychology, Education and Child Studies, P.O. Box 1738, 3000 DR, Rotterdam, the NetherlandsDepartment of Psychology, Education and Child Studies, P.O. Box 1738, 3000 DR, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Verwey-Jonker Institute, Giessenplein 59C, 3522 KE, Utrecht, the NetherlandsBackground: Children exposed to family violence are more likely to have lower well-being at school, more psychosocial problems and more post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) than children not exposed. Objective: We examined whether well-being at school, psychosocial problems, and PTSS affect each other over time in children exposed to family violence. Participants: and Setting: 332 Dutch children aged 8–17 years exposed to family violence (and their parents) who were reached through child protection services (CPS). Methods: Participants completed questionnaires on well-being at school, psychosocial problems, PTSS, and family violence shortly after being reported to CPS and again one year later. A cross-lagged panel model was conducted to examine the relationships between well-being at school, psychosocial problems, and PTSS over time. Findings: PTSS at Time 1 predicted psychosocial problems at Time 2 (β = .14, p < .05), no other cross-lagged effects were significant. Lower well-being at school was concurrently associated with more psychosocial problems and more PTSS at both time points, and more psychosocial problems was also concurrently associated with more PTSS at both occasions. Conclusion: More PTSS in children exposed to violence appears to be related to more psychosocial problems one year later. The concurrent associations between lower well-being at school, more psychosocial problems and more PTSS at both time points, suggest that these aspects do not appear to be independent, but rather interrelated and co-developing over time. The results highlight the importance of paying attention to children's well-being at school among children exposed to family violence.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950193824000792Family violenceWell-beingSchoolPsychosocial problemsPTSSChildren
spellingShingle Anna L.C. van Loon-Dikkers
Amaranta D. de Haan
Maartje P.C.M. Luijk
Majone J. Steketee
Bidirectional associations between well-being at school, psychosocial problems and PTSS in children exposed to family violence
Child Protection and Practice
Family violence
Well-being
School
Psychosocial problems
PTSS
Children
title Bidirectional associations between well-being at school, psychosocial problems and PTSS in children exposed to family violence
title_full Bidirectional associations between well-being at school, psychosocial problems and PTSS in children exposed to family violence
title_fullStr Bidirectional associations between well-being at school, psychosocial problems and PTSS in children exposed to family violence
title_full_unstemmed Bidirectional associations between well-being at school, psychosocial problems and PTSS in children exposed to family violence
title_short Bidirectional associations between well-being at school, psychosocial problems and PTSS in children exposed to family violence
title_sort bidirectional associations between well being at school psychosocial problems and ptss in children exposed to family violence
topic Family violence
Well-being
School
Psychosocial problems
PTSS
Children
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950193824000792
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AT maartjepcmluijk bidirectionalassociationsbetweenwellbeingatschoolpsychosocialproblemsandptssinchildrenexposedtofamilyviolence
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