Children and Youth Who Witness Violence: New Directions in Intervention and Prevention (From Child Abuse: New Directions in Prevention and Treatment Across the Lifespan, P 55-78, 1997, David A. Wolfe, Robert J. McMahon, et al., eds. - See NCJ-172926)

• NCJ Number: 172929
• Author(s): M Sudermann; P Jaffe
• Date Published: 1997
• Length: 24 pages
• Sale Source: Sage Publications, Inc
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter provides an overview of the evidence that children who witness violence are harmed in terms of their emotional health and behavioral adjustment.

Abstract

The chapter presents evidence relating witnessing violence to becoming involved in violent behavior and relationships, and describes group programs for children who witness wife assault. In addition, it describes and evaluates an innovative school-based primary-prevention program for violence in relationships. The chapter pays special attention to children in shelters, post-traumatic stress disorder, magnitude and nature of symptoms, gender differences, age differences, and links with adult problem behavior and violence. Group treatment to help process the experience, dispel myths about family violence, clarify responsibility for the violence, and focus on nonviolent conflict resolution can be most helpful for children. Future research could include assessing the positive impact on children of stronger legal remedies and protection for battered women and their children. Table, references