The intergenerational impact of trauma and family violence on parents and their children

BackgroundChildren who experience Child Abuse and Neglect (CAN) are at an increased risk of becoming a victim of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) or a perpetrator of IPV or CAN. Moreover, maltreated children are at risk for developing long-lasting trauma symptoms, which can subsequently affect their own children’s lives. Understanding the mechanisms of the intergenerational transmission of violence and trauma is a prerequisite for the development of interventions.ObjectiveWe examine whether the relation between historical CAN and current trauma symptoms of mothers is mediated by current IPV. Furthermore, we investigate whether current CAN mediates the relation between current maternal trauma symptoms and child Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms. These mechanisms are compared for mothers and fathers.ParticipantsWe have recruited 101 fathers and 360 mothers (426 children, 50% boys, mean age 7 years) through child protection services.MethodsRespondents completed questionnaires about IPV, (historical) CAN and trauma symptoms.ResultsStructural equation models revealed that historical CAN of father and mothers was related to trauma symptoms. Only for mothers, this association was mediated by IPV. Trauma symptoms of both fathers and mothers were related to child PTSD symptoms. This effect was not mediated by current CAN.ConclusionIn violent families, maternal and paternal trauma can be transmitted over generations. However, intergenerational transmission of violence is found for mothers only. When family violence is reported, professionals should take the violence into account, as well as the history of parents and trauma symptoms of all family members.     

‘Snitches get stitches’: School-specific barriers to victim disclosure and peer reporting of sexual harm committed by young people in school contexts

BackgroundSchool based, peer-to-peer sexual harm is under-researched despite its prevalence and adverse effects on young people across the globe. Understanding barriers to victim disclosure and peer reporting might help towards the prevention and protection of young people.ObjectiveThis study explores dual perspectives of young people and educational staff about school-specific environmental barriers to 1) young people’s disclosure of sexual harm experienced, and 2) young people’s reporting of sexual harm on behalf of others.Participants and setting: Participants include 59 young people aged 13–21 and 58 educational staff, drawn from seven schools across four local authorities in England whom formed part of a wider study on harmful sexual behavior and safety in schools.MethodsFocus groups were carried out with young people and education staff. The sessions were thematically analysed and focused on barriers to disclosure within the school context.ResultsPeer groups set powerful ‘rules’ that influence the ability and willingness of young people to report sexual harm. Some school responses for addressing sexual harm are sub-optimal and sexual harm is not adequately prioritised. Some schools appear to struggle to manage more subtle forms of sexual harm compared with more recognized forms of violence and abuse. A significant proportion of sexual harm is so prevalent that it is ‘normalised’, and therefore under-reported. This resigned acceptance to sexual harm consequently shapes young people’s disclosures.ConclusionsSchool systems of responding to sexual harm require strengthening to increase feelings of safety and empowerment of young people.     

The relationship between exposure to family violence in childhood and post-traumatic stress symptoms in young adulthood: The mediating role of social support

BackgroundExtensive research has examined the relationship between exposure to family violence and its long-term mental health effects. Social support has been found to moderate this relationship, but there is a dearth of research on its mediating role.ObjectivesThe article presents the results of a study on the relationship between witnessing interparental violence and experiencing parental violence during childhood and adolescence on the one hand, and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) during young adulthood on the other. In addition, the article presents results on the role of social support as a mediator in this relationship.Method, participants, and settingA cross-sectional survey was conducted among 516 Israeli university and college students (90.7% female, and 9.3% male; M age = 24.9, SD = 2.7) using a retrospective, self-administered questionnaire.ResultsThe results revealed that exposure to each pattern of family violence (i.e., witnessing interparental violence and experiencing parental violence) predicted higher levels of PTSS. Furthermore, social support was found to partially mediate the relationship between exposure to family violence during childhood and adolescence and current PTSS as well as its four symptoms, i.e., depression, sleep disturbance, dissociation, and anxiety.ConclusionsThe results of the current study highlight the important role of social support in the association between adversities experienced early in life and young adulthood outcomes. The findings are interpreted on the basis of Conservation of Resources Theory (Hobfoll et al., 1990), which served as the conceptual framework for the study. The limitations of the study and implications for future research are discussed.     

Prevalence of family violence and mental health and their relation to peer victimization: A representative study of adolescent students in Southwestern Uganda

BackgroundDespite global efforts to end violence against children in all settings, reports reveal that violence against children is still highly prevalent, especially in low-and middle- income countries. Violence in childhood is associated with a host of negative outcomes, and exposure in one setting can easily spill over to other contexts. For instance, exposure to family violence was not only related to mental health problems but also seems to be a risk factor for peer victimization.ObjectivesThe present study aimed to examine the prevalence of maltreatment within the family and adolescents’ mental health problems and their relation to peer victimization. We also aimed to gain new insights into the perceptions of adolescents concerning maltreatment within their families.MethodsData were collected from April to November 2017 in a representative sample of 702 students from 12 public secondary schools in Southwestern Uganda who responded to self-administered questionnaires.ResultsOverall, 95% of the students experienced at least one type of family violence in the past month. Students (81.3%) had endorsed some level of acceptance of violent discipline as a valid strategy in response to any misbehavior. Maltreatment within the family was related to peer victimization (β = .47) and this relation was mediated by mental health problems (0.002, 95%-CI: 0.001–0.004).ConclusionsThe results indicated a high prevalence of maltreatment within Ugandan families that was associated with peer victimization. This underscores the need to implement interventions aiming to reduce maltreatment and violence in order to protect children from potentially negative consequences.     

Mela: festival scenes in South Asian cinema

This article examines a recurrent film motif across a number of South Asian films, mostly called Mela. It also offers some observations on melas, actual and allegorical, as represented in films but often seeming to exceed their containment in context so as to say more about the conviviality of life, where this is at issue, where life is at a juncture in need of resolution within the cycle of becoming. The issues of violence, loss, national identity, politics of interpretation and repetition in ideology are canvassed. While the essay is focused upon Mela films themselves, and South Asian film more broadly, it has of course been important to note work by scholars such as M. Madhava Prasad, Ashish Rajadhyaksha, Anjali Gera Roy, Tejaswini Niranjana, Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak and the help of my students, some of whom are named below.     

母亲遭受家庭冷暴力对儿童早期多动行为的影响:亲子冲突与睡眠问题的链式中介作用

为探讨母亲遭受家庭冷暴力与儿童早期多动行为的关系及亲子冲突与睡眠问题的链式中介作用,使用家庭冷暴力量表、长处与困难问卷、亲子关系量表和Achenbach儿童睡眠行为量表对2728名1-8岁儿童及其母亲进行测查,采用SPSS26和Mplus8.3对数据进行统计分析并建立结构方程模型.研究发现,在控制了母亲的受教育程度、儿...     

CBA球员球场暴力行为的归因研究与治理省思 ——基于互动仪式链视角

运用文献资料法和逻辑分析法,以互动仪式链理论为视角,从文化资本互动与情感能量互动两方面对CBA球场暴力行为的发生机制进行研究。指出,赛前与赛中的互动仪式相互联系,赛前不良的互动仪式会将负向的情感能量带入比赛,使共享情感破裂,产生球场暴力现象。球员个体间情境互动会过渡到球队群际间,暴力行为会通过互动仪式链不断扩散到其他球队。比赛中双方都存在冲突性紧张,谁能抢占情感能量主导权谁就会在博弈中占据优势地位,处于压制的一方将转化为恐惧感。恐惧与冲突性紧张塑造了暴力情景,导致了球场暴力行为的发生。提出,应规范球员行为表现,防止球员暴力惯习的形成;加强球队球员间的沟通交流,修复断裂的互动仪式链条;注重裁判执裁能力建设,维持现场球队双方情感能量的平衡;营造有序的观赛环境,激发球迷潜在的道德情感。旨在为CBA健康有序发展提供建议与参考。     

从“暴力美学”视域审视武术散打运动

从“暴力美学”视角对武术散打进行审视与分析,在社会的现代化发展中,武术徒手格斗形式运动项目中的散打与暴力美学的结合表达了当前社会人们对格斗竞技类项目的态度与观点。散打运动中体现着暴力美学,外在展现的暴力动作实际上是内心世界的写照,同时也是观众内心情感的寄托宣泄。如今的社会,散打运动的独特魅力吸引着更多的人来认识它,攻防技击的本质是散打运动发展的基石,也是对它的准确定位。     

浅析网络舆论暴力成因——以“后妈虐童”事件为例

综观近年来发生的网络舆论暴力事件,尽管大多数网民的出发点是为了弘扬正义、惩奸罚恶,但它对当事人和社会的影响却不可低估,而且网民的表达方式和采取的实际行动是否理性值得探讨,鉴于舆论暴力事件日益增多,本课题旨在通过分析网络舆论暴力现象的特点、表现,运用传播学理论和相关社会学的视角对该现象做根源、理论上的探究.     

On the alleged intrinsic immorality of mixed martial arts

In two recent articles, Nicholas Dixon has argued that the intent to hurt and injure opponents which is essential to mixed martial arts (MMA) makes the sport intrinsically immoral. Although bondage, domination, sadism, and masochism (BDSM) also involves the intentional infliction of pain and injury, Dixon argues that it is morally permissible in many cases. In this paper, I examine the principle underlying Dixon's differentiation of MMA and BDSM. I argue that, when properly elaborated, that principle does not in fact condemn MMA as intrinsically immoral, but rather implies that the attitudes and actions of most autonomously consenting amateur MMA fighters and some autonomously consenting professionals are prima facie morally permissible.