https://link.springer.com/article/10.

1007/s40653-022-00464-3

Original Article

Published: 30 June 2022

Depression and Substance Use as Consequences of Exposure to Family Violence: A

Moderation Mediation and Self-Medication Hypothesis Study

Timothy I. Lawrence, Ariel A. Mcfield, Madeleine M. Byrne, Sheree S. Tarver & Tiah K. Stewart

Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma (2022)

Abstract

Ample evidence exists suggesting that exposure to family violence leads to substance use and this
relationship is moderated by gender; however, much is still unknown of the underlying mechanism of
this relationship. Thus, the current study first examined whether exposure to family violence was
associated with substance use. Then consistent with the self-medication hypothesis, we tested
whether depressive symptoms mediated the relations between exposure to family violence and
substance use. Finally, we examined the moderating effect of gender on the relationships among
exposure to family violence and depressive symptoms/substance use (N = 1,850). Results suggest
that exposure to family violence positively associated with substance use. Mediation results revealed
that depressive symptoms explained the relationship between exposure to family violence and
substance use. Moderation results indicated that males who were exposed to family violence were
more likely to endorse depressive symptoms and more likely to use substances while controlling for
sibling aggression victimization. This study provides new insight into the internalizing and
externalizing symptoms of exposure to family violence, specifically for male adolescents. Implications
are discussed.