Exposure To Family Violence and Low Parental Connectedness Associated with Depressive Symptoms, Substance Use and Violence Outcomes Among Adolescents In South Africa

Abstract

Purpose: Limited research has explored the impacts of family violence on early adolescent mental health and behaviour, in low- and middle-income countries. We examined the associations between family violence, adolescent mental health, and violent behaviours to identify potential pathways for disrupting the intergenerational cycle of violence, thereby addressing key evidence gaps in this area. Methods: Data was collected among 3756 learners, ages 11–16 years, participating in a cluster-randomized trial in South Africa. Descriptive statistics, bivariate regressions, and separate structural equation models explored pathways linking family violence to depressive symptoms (girls) and dating violence perpetration (boys). Results: We found gender disparities in family violence experiences and adolescent outcomes. Boys reported higher exposure to family violence, lower caregiver support, and more problematic behaviours than girls. While girls and boys showed similar depression rates, pathways differed. For girls, exposure to family violence, directly and indirectly, predicted depression through reduced parent–child connection, delinquency, negative school attitudes, and bullying. Boys' exposure to family violence predicted dating violence indirectly through depression, substance use, and delinquency, with depression also directly impacting substance use. Conclusions: Exposure to family violence and poor parent–child relationships significantly contributed to the onset of poor mental health, negative attitudes toward school, behavioral problems, and violence in early adolescence, potentially perpetuating intergenerational cycles of violence. These findings highlight the urgent need for multifaceted, evidence-based interventions designed to disrupt these cycles and improve early adolescent mental health and academic outcomes. Rigorous development and evaluation of such interventions are crucial, especially within the South African context.