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According to a recent University of Michigan study, elevated exposure to violence in the broader social environment may translate into familial violence, including the physical maltreatment of children by caregivers.

Investigators examined how societal violence, such as terrorism, political discord, and homicide, might shape parental disciplinary methods, particularly through physical measures.

“The premise is that when violence is prevalent in society, it can become normalized and infiltrate family dynamics,” stated Andrew Grogan-Kaylor, a senior author of the study and a professor of social work at U-M.

The research team anticipated finding a direct correlation between pervasive violence and severe parenting practices, even after taking into account cultural beliefs that rationalize such actions. They found that, although there isn’t a straightforward link, societal violence does indirectly influence parenting approaches.

“This suggests that diminishing violence in society could potentially alleviate physical maltreatment in homes,” he remarked.

Globally, around 6 out of 10 children in low- and middle-income nations experience parental violence, including beatings, hitting with objects, slapping, spanking, or psychological aggression.

The researchers analyzed data from over 435,000 households with children aged one to 17 across 43 countries sourced from UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys. The data did not include households from the United States.

They assessed the extent to which violence at the country level—evaluated by rates of terrorism, political conflict, homicides, and women’s experiences of domestic violence—correlated with instances of severe and moderate physical abuse. Survey participants were asked if any adult in the household had inflicted physical harm on a child in the past month.

Grogan-Kaylor asserted that initiatives targeting the reduction of abusive parenting in low- and middle-income nations may find success by addressing attitudes that condone domestic violence and physical punishment of children. These initiatives should also explore ways to assist families and parents in coping with the effects of widespread violence on individuals and households, he noted.

The study’s co-authors include Kaitlin Ward, research affiliate at the U-M School of Social Work; Julie Ma, associate professor of social work at UM-Flint; Elizabeth Boyle, professor of sociology at the University of Minnesota; Garrett Pace, assistant professor of social work at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; and Olivia Chang, doctoral candidate in the U-M Joint Doctoral Program of psychology and social work.

These findings are published in the June edition of Child Abuse & Neglect.

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