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

Behavioural problems and depressive Symptomatology were evaluated in a samp le of 60 St Lucian pupils who came front 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 wer e obtained from pupils using either the Reynolds Child Depression Scale (RC DS) or the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale (RADS), depending an the ag e 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 exhibit more behavioural problems but less depressive symptomatology than adolescents. The results f rom this study are consistent with those of more developed countries. The t heoretical implications of these findings are discussed and methodology ref inements are suggested for further research.