Verbal Aggression Related to Child Adjustment Issues
The current issue of Child Maltreatment has a fascinating study on children exposed to domestic violence. Unlike similar studies, this one looked not only at battery-type violence, but also verbal aggression. The researchers found that women and men were equally likely to be involved in aggression and violence, including verbal aggression. They also found significant adjustment issues in children who experienced only verbal aggression.
Like all studies, this one has limits and needs to be replicated. In the legal setting, however, it adds a significant wrinkle to the question of damages. In any case where mental health is an issue, both the expert witnesses and attorneys need to investigate and account for domestic violence, including relatively moderate verbal aggression.
