Children of marital violence: a closer look at the unintended victims.

The impact of marital violence on male children was assessed via data provided by mothers in three groups: maritally abused; nonviolent, maritally discordant; and satisfactorily married. Both marital violence and nonviolent marital discord were found to be related to behavioral and emotional problems in the witnessing children. Frequency of exposure to both discord and violence and punitive maternal parenting style were also shown to have differential negative effects.