Work

Political violence exposure and youth aggression in the context of the social ecological systems and family stress models: A four-wave prospective study of Israeli and Palestinian youth

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Based on the social ecological systems framework and the family stress model, we examine a model in which the family's exposure to ethnic-political violence in the Middle East predicts negative family functioning, which in turn predicts subsequent harsh physical punishment toward one's children, and in turn, children's aggression by late adolescence/early adulthood. Beginning in 2007, we collected four waves of data from Israeli Jewish (N=451 at Wave 1) and Palestinian (N=600 at Wave 1) youths (three age cohorts: 8, 11, and 14 years old) and their parents. We found that exposure to ethnic-political violence increases harsh parenting and, subsequently, child aggression, via processes emanating from the family context (interparental aggression) in line with theorizing from the family stress and ecological systems frameworks. These results highlight the usefulness of applying the family stress model to families exposed to ethnic-political violence, and the need for multi-level interventions for these families.

Source: International Journal of Behavioral Development

DOI: 10.1177/01650254251377760

Authors: Eric F. Dubow, Paul Boxer, Meagan Docherty, L. Rowell Huesmann, Simha F. Landau, Khalil Shikaki

Institutions: Bowling Green State University, University of Michigan, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Language: English

Topic: Child Abuse and Trauma

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development