Childhood Neglect, Low Self-Control, and Violence Victimization in the Czech Republic and the United States: A Cross-Cultural Comparison

Informed by self-control theory and victimization theory, as well as evidence supporting lifelong consequences of childhood neglect, the present study sought to test the direct and indirect effects of childhood emotional and physical neglect on violence victimization, as mediated by low self-control (total score, impulsivity, simple tasks, risk seeking, physical act, self-centered, and temper). Data were collected from two national samples of late adolescent, college-age women, one from the Czech Republic (N = 1,002) and one from the United States (N = 1,143). The main research questions investigated whether there was an association between (1) emotional and physical childhood neglect and violence victimization; (2) emotional and physical childhood neglect and low self-control; (3) low self-control and violence victimization; and whether low self-control mediated these associations. The study also tested whether culture moderated these latter links. Results provided evidence of positive associations among childhood neglect, low self-control, and violence victimization. They also indicated that some low self-control subscales (impulsivity, risk seeking, temper, and physical activity [emotional neglect only]), but not the total score, meditated the links between childhood emotional and physical neglect and violence victimization. Finally, culture did not moderate these mediated links. The present findings have important implications for theory as well as for prevention and intervention work.