The effects of witnessing domestic violence on behavioural problems and depressive symptomatology. A community sample of pupils from St. Lucia

ABSTRACT

Behavioural problems and depressive symptomatology were evaluated in a sample of 60 St. Lucian pupils who came from homes where parents were either in violent or non-violent marital relationships. Teachers rated pupils using the Revised Behaviour Problem Checklist (RBPC) while self rating scores were obtained from pupils using either the Reynolds Child Depression Scale (RCDS) or the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale (RADS), depending on the age of the pupil. The results indicated that those pupils whose parents were experiencing violent marital discord showed significantly higher levels of both depression and behavioural problems than those pupils not exposed to domestic violence. In addition, exposed children exhibited more behavioural problems but less depressive symptomatology than adolescents. The results from this study are consistent with those of more developed countries. The theoretical implications of these findings are discussed and methodological refinements are suggested for further research.(AU)