April Shen
National Taiwan University, Social Work, Faculty Member
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Although there are studies that have investigated the prevalence of dating violence among Taiwanese and US college students, the mental health consequences of the victimization have not been investigated and compared between the two... more
Although there are studies that have investigated the prevalence of dating violence among Taiwanese and US college students, the mental health consequences of the victimization have not been investigated and compared between the two groups. The study explored the prevalence ...
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ABSTRACT
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This study examined the joint impact of experiencing both interparental violence and child physical maltreatment on young adults' self-esteem. It also tested the hypothesis of parental and peer relationship qualities as mediators in... more
This study examined the joint impact of experiencing both interparental violence and child physical maltreatment on young adults' self-esteem. It also tested the hypothesis of parental and peer relationship qualities as mediators in the relationship between childhood histories of family violence and adult self-esteem. Data were collected from a national probability sample of 1,924 college students in Taiwan. Research results demonstrated that experiencing both interparental violence and physical maltreatment during childhood have long-term and detrimental impact on adult self-esteem. This impact was statistically independent of other potential confounding factors. Moreover, participants experiencing dual violence during childhood reported lower self-esteem than those experiencing only one type of family violence or none at all. Male participants who experienced dual violence reported lower self-esteem than female participants who experienced dual violence. Further analyses revea...
Research Interests: Criminology, Psychology, Child Development, Interpersonal Relationship, Probability, and 15 moreStudents, Humans, Female, Male, Interpersonal Relations, Risk factors, Peer group, Self Concept, Adult, Sex Factors, Interpersonal Violence, Risk Factors, Self Esteem, cultural characteristics, and Spouse abuse
This article presents a qualitative analysis regarding the help-seeking behaviors of female dating-violence victims from a cultural perspective. A semistructured, in-depth interview was used to collect data from 10 female victims (aged... more
This article presents a qualitative analysis regarding the help-seeking behaviors of female dating-violence victims from a cultural perspective. A semistructured, in-depth interview was used to collect data from 10 female victims (aged 20-28). Findings indicate that Taiwanese dating-violence victims tend to seek informal help rather than formal help. Culturally structured help-seeking experiences center around six primary themes: (a) self-reliant culture, (b) personal and family shame, (c) secretive and sexual dating relationships, (d) fear of negative reactions from others, (e) unfamiliarity with available resources, and (f) revictimization in seeking help. Understanding cultural meanings and barriers encountered in help-seeking behaviors is an important step in effectively assisting victims of dating violence.
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English This study aims to examine factors associated with marital satisfaction in the context of cultural shifts. Results showed that couples in Taiwan have adopted a conjugal model rather than the traditional culture in evaluating their... more
English This study aims to examine factors associated with marital satisfaction in the context of cultural shifts. Results showed that couples in Taiwan have adopted a conjugal model rather than the traditional culture in evaluating their marital relationship. The spousal relationship has become the primary dyad in marriage, but the extended families remain influential on marital relations. French Cette étude examine les facteurs associés à la satisfaction dans les relations conjugales dans un contexte de changements culturels. Les résultats démontrent que les couples au Taïwan ont adopté le modèle conjugal plutôt que la'culture traditionnelle dans l'évaluation de leurs relations maritales. Quoique la famille élargie continue d'exercer son influence sur les relations de couples, la relation conjugale est devenue la dyade primordiale dans le mariage. Spanish Este estudio pretende examinar los factores asociados a la satisfacción matrimonial en el contexto de los cambios c...
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ABSTRACT
此研究目的為（一）探討台灣兒童的家庭與同儕受害經驗與其網路成癮的關係，（二）檢視心理症狀在其中所扮演的中介角色。研究對象為2014年全國國小四年級的學生，並按照各縣市人口比例使用分層隨機抽樣來取得樣本，有效樣本數為6,233人。本研究採用雙變量相關分析及一系列多元迴歸分析來檢視多層面兒童受害經驗對網路成癮的直接影響，以及透過心理症狀而產生的間接影響。研究結果顯示男生及有受害經驗之兒童（心理及生理忽視、目睹父母婚姻暴力、同儕罷凌經驗），會有較高產生心理症狀和網路成癮的風險。此外... more
此研究目的為（一）探討台灣兒童的家庭與同儕受害經驗與其網路成癮的關係，（二）檢視心理症狀在其中所扮演的中介角色。研究對象為2014年全國國小四年級的學生，並按照各縣市人口比例使用分層隨機抽樣來取得樣本，有效樣本數為6,233人。本研究採用雙變量相關分析及一系列多元迴歸分析來檢視多層面兒童受害經驗對網路成癮的直接影響，以及透過心理症狀而產生的間接影響。研究結果顯示男生及有受害經驗之兒童（心理及生理忽視、目睹父母婚姻暴力、同儕罷凌經驗），會有較高產生心理症狀和網路成癮的風險。此外，分析結果也證實了心理症狀的部分中介效應，顯示兒童多層面的受害經驗（生理忽視除外）可能透過其心理症狀的產生，進而增加兒童網路成癮的機會。綜上所述，研究證實了多層面兒童受害經驗對其心理症狀及網路成癮的直接與間接影響效應，同時也顯示了及早針對兒童在家庭及學校受害經驗之預防與介入的重要性，進而處理並減輕可能伴隨而來的心理症狀與兒童網路成癮之疑慮。
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The current study aims to clarify the associations as well as the pathways through which parenting and children's emotional intelligence (EI) may influence children's mental health with a cross-sectional sample of 675 school... more
The current study aims to clarify the associations as well as the pathways through which parenting and children's emotional intelligence (EI) may influence children's mental health with a cross-sectional sample of 675 school pupils (fourth grade, mean age = 10.4 years, 310 boy, 356 girls and 9 unidentified) in Taiwan. Hierarchical regression and path analyses were used to examine the relationships between parenting styles, children's trait EI, and their psychological symptoms, with children's psychological symptoms as the dependent variable. The results showed that authoritative parenting was positively associated with children‟s trait EI, which in turn had a negative effect on children‟s psychological symptoms, whereas authoritarian and Chinese-specific parenting styles had direct negative effect on children‟s psychological symptoms. These findings shed light on the pathways of the interrelations between different parenting styles, children's trait EI, and psych...
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We examined multidimensional factors within four systems (individual, family, school, and community) that influence internet addiction across time among children through adolescence in Taiwan. We hypothesize that internet addiction... more
We examined multidimensional factors within four systems (individual, family, school, and community) that influence internet addiction across time among children through adolescence in Taiwan. We hypothesize that internet addiction increases from childhood to adolescence and that resilience, child neglect, positive school experiences, and community violence are significant predictors at baseline and of the rate of change across time. Based on stratified random sampling, a valid sample size of 6233 Taiwanese children participated in our study, which we began in 2014 and then followed this sample in 2016 and 2018 using repeated measures. We used hierarchical linear modeling to model changes in internet addiction across time (with equal two-year intervals between assessments) and the associations between the predictors and internet addiction over time. The results show that internet addiction increases from childhood to adolescence. After controlling for gender, we found that resilienc...
Teen dating violence (TDV) is a major global public health concern. Few studies, however, have examined profiles of TDV in Chinese societies and how these profiles might be associated with teens’ mental health. The current study analyzed... more
Teen dating violence (TDV) is a major global public health concern. Few studies, however, have examined profiles of TDV in Chinese societies and how these profiles might be associated with teens’ mental health. The current study analyzed a sample of 891 middle and high school students with dating experience in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. Latent class analysis (LCA) and multinomial logit regression analysis were performed in an attempt to identify profiles of TDV and then investigate possible associations between class membership and self-reported depression. The results of LCA suggested that a four-class model was the best fit for the data: Severe/Multi-Type TDV (5.51%), Controlling Behavior (13.08%), Non/Low TDV (64.50%), and Physical Violence (16.91%). The best-fit model suggested bidirectionality, meaning among teen partners in an abusive relationship, both tended to participate in violent acts and controlling behaviors. The results of the multinomial regression showed that,...
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This study aims to examine the associations between child maltreatment (physical and psychological neglect and abuse), dysfunctional family environment (inter-parental violence, parental substance abuse), post-traumatic stress disorder... more
This study aims to examine the associations between child maltreatment (physical and psychological neglect and abuse), dysfunctional family environment (inter-parental violence, parental substance abuse), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and children’s bullying perpetration, and the potential mediating effect of PTSD in the associations. We collected data using a self-report questionnaire with a nation-wide, proportionately stratified random sample of 6233 fourth-grade students in Taiwan. We performed hierarchical regression analysis and mediation analysis to test the research hypotheses. The results indicate that parental substance abuse, physical and psychological neglect, physical and psychological abuse, witness of inter-parental violence, and PTSD are positively associated with child bullying ( p < .001), after controlling for gender. These variables, referred to as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), explain 23% of the variance, and the results are statistically significant. PTSD fully mediated the relationship between psychological neglect and child bullying and partially mediated the associations between other ACE variables and child bullying. Children with higher levels of bullying perpetration reported more family violence and neglect at home and parental substance abuse problems. These ACEs also indirectly affect child bullying through PTSD. Among school-age children in Taiwan, children who had these adverse experiences were more likely to have PTSD symptoms, which in turn can lead to externalizing problems that increase the risk of exhibiting bullying perpetration toward others. In addition to behavioral modeling and corrections as strategies to combat bullying in schools, prevention and intervention efforts should address and screen for ACEs and tackle psychological problems.
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This study examines the moderating effects of both emotional intelligence and social intelligence (social awareness and social information processing) on the relationship between peer victimization and internet addiction, and on the... more
This study examines the moderating effects of both emotional intelligence and social intelligence (social awareness and social information processing) on the relationship between peer victimization and internet addiction, and on the association between peer victimization and psychological distress. We collected data from a national proportionately-stratified random sample of 6233 fourth-grade primary school students in Taiwan and constructed hierarchical linear regression models to test the research hypotheses. The results show that youth who have experienced more peer victimization are at a higher risk of internet addiction and psychological distress than youth who have experienced less peer victimization. In this study, emotional intelligence was negatively associated with internet addiction, but it did not significantly buffer the impact of victimization on internet addiction. Social awareness was negatively associated with internet addiction, but it exacerbated the negative impact of peer victimization on internet addiction. On the other hand, emotional intelligence was negatively associated with psychological distress and buffered the negative impact of victimization on mental health. Social information processing was negatively associated with psychological distress, but it amplified the negative impact of peer victimization on mental health among Taiwanese adolescents. The research implications of these findings are discussed.
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The current study examines the relationship between parents’ and children’s reports of parenting and their effects on children’s mental health symptoms. Six hundred and sixty-six parent-child dyads in Taiwan participated in this study.... more
The current study examines the relationship between parents’ and children’s reports of parenting and their effects on children’s mental health symptoms. Six hundred and sixty-six parent-child dyads in Taiwan participated in this study. The parents and the children filled out the parenting questionnaires, and the children also reported their general mental health. The results demonstrated that parental-reported and child-perceived parenting were positively correlated, but parents tended to report lower scores on authoritarian parenting and higher scores on Chinese parenting than did their children. There were also significant gender differences: The mothers reported higher authoritative parenting than did the fathers; and the boys perceived higher authoritarian and Chinese-culture specific parenting than did the girls. Moreover, the Chinese parenting had a negative effect on children’s mental health outcomes. Finally, our results showed that children’s perception of parenting had a s...
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BACKGROUND Although research on the negative effects of childhood poly-victimization is substantial, few studies have examined the relationship between poly-victimization and younger children's physical health and diseases. OBJECTIVE... more
BACKGROUND Although research on the negative effects of childhood poly-victimization is substantial, few studies have examined the relationship between poly-victimization and younger children's physical health and diseases. OBJECTIVE This study examines the associations between poly-victimization and children's health problems requiring medical attention. METHODS A national stratified cluster random sampling was used to select and approach 25% of the total primary schools in Taiwan, and 49% of the approached schools agreed to participate in this study. We collected data with a self-report questionnaire from 6233 (4th-grade) students aged 10-11, covering every city and county in Taiwan. RESULTS Logistic regression analyses demonstrate a significant dose-response relationship between children's poly-victimization exposure and their health problems including hospitalization, serious injury, surgery, daily-medication requirements, heart murmurs, asthma, dizziness or fainting, allergies, kidney disease, therapies for special needs, smoking, and alcohol use. The results indicate that children's risk of having a health problem grew significantly with each increase in the number of victimization types that children experienced. CONCLUSIONS These research findings underscore the effect of poly-victimization on children's health problems requiring medical attention, and stress the need for both proper screening methods for children's exposure to poly-victimization and stronger awareness of poly-victimization's effects on health conditions in healthcare clinics.
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This study explores the effects of romantic involvement and dating behaviors on adolescent academic and psychosocial functioning in Chinese societies, where adolescent dating is generally discouraged and believed to generate adverse... more
This study explores the effects of romantic involvement and dating behaviors on adolescent academic and psychosocial functioning in Chinese societies, where adolescent dating is generally discouraged and believed to generate adverse outcomes. Adolescents (male = 48.6%; MeanAge = 15.20 years) from Taiwan (N = 1081) and mainland China (N = 684) were recruited through stratified sampling to complete self-report surveys on their academic performance, depressive symptoms, self-esteem, relationship status, and gender-role beliefs. Adolescents with current or past dating experiences were also asked about specific dating behaviors, such as the onset of dating, number of relationships, and breakup experiences. Approximately one-third of Chinese adolescents surveyed (34.2%) have past or ongoing dating experience, who showed poorer academic performance compared to never-dated teens. In the full sample, single adolescents with past dating experiences reported greater depressive symptoms than those currently dating or never-dated teens. Boys with past dating experience showed higher self-esteem than their currently dating or never-dated peers, whereas single girls with past dating experience showed lower self-esteem than their currently dating or never-dated counterparts. Among adolescents with dating experience, early dating, over-dating, sexual activities, and breakup experiences can undermine their academic and psychosocial well-being. These findings have significant implications for practice and policy regarding adolescent education and mental health.
Research Interests: Psychology, Social Work, Child and adolescent mental health, Depression, Adolescent Development, and 13 moreTaiwan Studies, China, Romantic Relationships, Adolescent, Contemporary China, Adolescent Depression, Interpersonal Romantic Relationships, Taiwan, Dating, Child and Adolescent Psychology, Adolescents, Child and Adolescent Mental Health, and Depression Psychology
This study explores the effects of romantic involvement and dating behaviors on adolescent academic and psychosocial functioning in Chinese societies, where adolescent dating is generally discouraged and believed to generate adverse... more
This study explores the effects of romantic involvement and dating behaviors on adolescent academic and psychosocial functioning in Chinese societies, where adolescent dating is generally discouraged and believed to generate adverse outcomes. Adolescents (male = 48.6%; Mean Age = 15.20 years) from Taiwan (N = 1081) and mainland China (N = 684) were recruited through stratified sampling to complete self-report surveys on their academic performance, depressive symptoms, self-esteem, relationship status, and gender-role beliefs. Adolescents with current or past dating experiences were also asked about specific dating behaviors, such as the onset of dating, number of relationships, and breakup experiences. Approximately one-third of Chinese adolescents surveyed (34.2%) have past or ongoing dating experience, who showed poorer academic performance compared to never-dated teens. In the full sample, single adolescents with past dating experiences reported greater depressive symptoms than t...
Research Interests: Psychology, Social Work, Child and adolescent mental health, Depression, Adolescent Development, and 13 moreTaiwan Studies, China, Romantic Relationships, Adolescent, Contemporary China, Adolescent Depression, Interpersonal Romantic Relationships, Taiwan, Dating, Child and Adolescent Psychology, Adolescents, Child and Adolescent Mental Health, and Depression Psychology
This study examines (1) associations between four types of family and peer victimization and child internet addiction and (2) the mediating effects of psychological symptoms on these associations. Data were collected from a national... more
This study examines (1) associations between four types of family and peer victimization and child internet addiction and (2) the mediating effects of psychological symptoms on these associations. Data were collected from a national proportionately-stratified random sample of 6,233 fourth-grade primary school students in Taiwan in 2014. Bivariate correlations and sets of multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the direct effects of multi dimensional victimization on child internet addiction and the indirect effects through psychological symptoms. The results reveal that being male and experiencing victimization (psychological neglect, physical neglect, witnessing domestic violence, and bully victimization) are associated with an increased risk of developing psychological symptoms and internet addiction among children. Moreover, we found that psychological symptoms partially mediate the associations between multidimensional victimization and child internet addiction, w...
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This study aims to examine the prevalence of multiple types of child victimization and the effects of multiple types of victimization on children’s mental health and behavior in Taiwan. The study also examines the child-protection rate... more
This study aims to examine the prevalence of multiple types of child victimization and the effects of multiple types of victimization on children’s mental health and behavior in Taiwan. The study also examines the child-protection rate and its correlates among children experiencing various types of victimization. This study collected data with a self-report questionnaire from a national proportionately stratified sample of 6,233 fourth-grade students covering every city and county in Taiwan in 2014. After calculating the 1-year prevalence of child victimization, the study found that bullying was the most prevalent (71%), followed by physical neglect (66%), psychological violence (43%), inter-parental violence (28%), community violence (22%), physical abuse (21%), and sexual violence (9%). As the number of victimization types increased, children were more likely to report greater posttraumatic symptoms, psychiatric symptoms, suicide ideation, self-harm thoughts, and violent behaviors...
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Students with physical symptoms and diseases may be at an increased risk of peer victimization. This study examined the associations of several medical conditions (obesity, asthma, allergy, epilepsy, and diabetes) with experience of... more
Students with physical symptoms and diseases may be at an increased risk of peer victimization. This study examined the associations of several medical conditions (obesity, asthma, allergy, epilepsy, and diabetes) with experience of physical, verbal, and relational victimization among children. A sample of 6,233 fourth-grade students from 314 elementary schools in Taiwan was recruited for the analysis. The mean age of the sample was 10.5, with an even distribution of gender (50.3% male and 49.7% female). Children with asthma, allergy, and epilepsy reported higher frequencies of peer victimization. Those who took daily medications or received treatment were also at a higher risk of being victimized. Diabetes and obesity were not found to be associated with peer victimization. The findings highlighted that children with physical conditions suffer maltreatment from peers. Sensitivity training should be provided to school health professionals, so they can evaluate the risk of victimizat...
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Based on an integrative framework, this study addresses the beliefs that a group of social work students from Taiwan had about wife beating. A self-administered questionnaire was filled out by 790 students (76.5% female, 23.5% male)... more
Based on an integrative framework, this study addresses the beliefs that a group of social work students from Taiwan had about wife beating. A self-administered questionnaire was filled out by 790 students (76.5% female, 23.5% male) spanning all 4 years of undergraduate studies. The results show that male students exhibited a greater tendency than their female counterparts to justify wife beating and to hold battered women responsible for violence against them. This tendency was also found among students who held traditional attitudes toward women, students who held patriarchal expectations of marriage, and students who had witnessed interparental violence in childhood. In addition, male students and students with traditional attitudes toward women exhibited the strongest tendency to believe that wives benefit from beating. Conversely, female students expressed more willingness than their male counterparts to help battered women, as did students who held liberal attitudes toward wom...
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This study aimed to examine gender differences in marriage among Taiwanese couples. Quantitative and cross-sectional data were collected from a community sample of 100 married couples in Taiwan. In general, the Taiwanese participants... more
This study aimed to examine gender differences in marriage among Taiwanese couples. Quantitative and cross-sectional data were collected from a community sample of 100 married couples in Taiwan. In general, the Taiwanese participants (85%) expressed satisfaction with their marriage, with men reporting higher satisfaction levels than women. Moreover, the correlation between husband and wife on how they view their relationship in various aspects of their marriage was significant, but it was a low or moderate correlation. This study echoes with previous western findings and demonstrates that there are gender differences in marriage. Husbands and wives have different levels of marital satisfaction.
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In Chinese societies, violence among adolescent dating partners remains a largely ignored and invisible phenomenon. The goal of this study is to examine the relationships among gender-role beliefs, attitudes justifying dating violence,... more
In Chinese societies, violence among adolescent dating partners remains a largely ignored and invisible phenomenon. The goal of this study is to examine the relationships among gender-role beliefs, attitudes justifying dating violence, and the experiences of dating-violence perpetration and victimization among Chinese adolescents. This study has used self-reporting measures to collect data from a probability sample of 976 adolescents (mean age = 15.9) in three Chinese societies: Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. Research results reveal a high prevalence of dating violence (including physical violence, sexual violence, and controlling behavior) among Chinese adolescents with dating experience: the perpetration rate is 27.3% and the victimization rate is 39%. Study results demonstrate that adolescents who endorse traditional gender-role beliefs tend to view dating violence as acceptable behavior. Boys’ endorsement of traditional gender roles, boys’ attitudes justifying boy-on-girl viol...
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This study has examined the effects that young adults’ experience of dating-violence victimization can have on their manifestation of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. This study has also examined the possible roles that... more
This study has examined the effects that young adults’ experience of dating-violence victimization can have on their manifestation of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. This study has also examined the possible roles that cultural beliefs can play in dating-violence experience, coping choices, and PTSD symptoms. This study has used self-reporting measures to collect data from a nationally stratified random sample of 1,018 college students in Taiwan. Results demonstrate that college students who had experienced dating-violence victimization reported higher levels of PTSD symptoms than those who had not. The results reveal that psychological-violence victimization and cultural beliefs have direct and indirect effects on PTSD symptoms via the mediation of young adults’ use of emotion-focused coping strategies. Greater frequencies of psychological-violence victimization were associated with a greater use of emotion-focused coping, which was in turn associated with increases ...
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In Taiwan, a systematic way and integrative system for interviewing child victims or witnesses has yet to be established. Child victims or witnesses still have to go through a long process when involved in the legal system. They are... more
In Taiwan, a systematic way and integrative system for interviewing child victims or witnesses has yet to be established. Child victims or witnesses still have to go through a long process when involved in the legal system. They are typically interviewed several times by various systems (first by social worker, then police officers, yet again prosecutors and even medical or mental health professionals) with different approaches.