U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Infants Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence: Issues of Gender and Sex

NCJ Number
240508
Journal
Journal of Family Violence Volume: 27 Issue: 5 Dated: July 2012 Pages: 477-488
Author(s)
Ketan Tailor; Nicole Letourneau
Date Published
July 2012
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This article attempts to provide guidance in gender- and sex-based analysis (GSBA) for research on infant development in families affected by intimate partner violence (IPV).
Abstract
A review of the literature finds that the development of infants exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) may vary across sex as boys display more externalizing behavior, while girls show more internalizing behavior. Given this trend, gender- and sex-based analysis (GSBA) may play a critical role in understanding and improving the adjustment of these infants. Researchers are often encouraged to include gender and sex into their analysis, though they are rarely afforded appropriate direction in this process. The intention of this article is to provide guidance in GSBA for research on infant development in families affected by IPV. The authors present a discussion on GSBA, a review of the literature, explanations for differences in male and female infant development, a set of research priorities, and directions for future work. Findings suggest that a better understanding of the complexities in the adjustment of violence-exposed infants through GSBA may promote childhood development. Abstract published by arrangement with Springer.