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Family Group Therapy: A Domestic Violence Program for Youth and Parents

Rybski, Nancy Carole
June 4, 2015

Source: (2007) In John Hamel and Tonia L. Nicholls, Ed., Family Interventions in Domestic Violence. New York, USA: Springer Publishing Company. Pp. 499-518.

“Adolescent-parent violence is a serious social problem not only because of its immediate effects but also because it implicates family problems that exist prior and subsequent to the violence. Antecedent conditions may include interparental abuse that serves as a template for the child’s aggression (Kitzmann, Gaylord, Holt, & Kenny, 2003; see also chapter 9 in this volume), dysfunctional personality characteristics that arise from the observation of violence (Kempton, Thomas, & Forehand, 1989), and truncated social and relational skills due to an overall dysfunctional home with inadequate parenting (Repetti, Taylor, & Seeman, 2002; Straus & Donelly, 2001). Children who witness their parents assault one another or are subjected to direct physical abuse by them are at risk for developing symptoms of internal distress (e.g., anxiety and depression) as well as conduct disorders (Margoloin & Gordis, 2000), including retributional violence directed against the parents (Ulman & Straus, 2003). Subsequent conditions involve the continuance of violence into adulthood (Patterson & Yoerger 1993), with violent behaviors against one’s partners and children (Simons, Wu, Johnson & Conger, 1995), and the maintenance of inadequate social and interpersonal skills (Lochman & Dodge, 1994). It is clear that adolescent-parent violence is a complex problem with far-reaching implications.” (excerpt)

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