Conduct Disorder Symptoms in Pre-School Children Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence: Gender Differences in Risk and Resilience

This study utilized data involving 7,743 children (51.6% boys) aged four from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort. Children were cross-categorized into four groups: Resilient, Non-resilient, Vulnerable and Competent. Maternal depression and life events, parenting, attachment, social development and temperament were analyzed as dependent variables, and were examined as predictors of group membership. Results showed that resilient boys were less emotional, less active, and more shy and had higher-educated mothers than the non-resilient boys. Resilient girls were less emotional, less active, more shy, less socially developmentally advanced, had more secure attachment to their mothers, and their mothers were better educated and reported more positive parenting strategies than non-resilient girls. Different approaches to intervention may be needed for IPV-exposed preschool boys and girls.