Children of Battered Women: Research, Programs, and Services (From Helping Battered Women: New Perspectives and Remedies, P 172-187, 1996, Albert R Roberts, ed. -- See NCJ-163226)

• NCJ Number: 163237
• Author(s): B E Carlson
• Date Published: 1996
• Length: 16 pages
• Sale Source: Oxford University Press, Inc
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

As awareness of the prevalence and impact of domestic violence has grown, professional attention has shifted from affected adults to children who are exposed to abuse between their parents.

Abstract

Research concerning the impact of witnessing parental violence or abuse on children has grown in both quantity and quality since the early 1980's. The major conclusion to emerge from this research is that the well-being of children exposed to marital violence is diminished. Specifically, research findings indicate elevated levels of internalizing and externalizing behavior problems and impaired social competence. The relationship between observing marital violence and child distress is even stronger in the case of children who have also been physically abused by their parents. Research also shows that boys are more symptomatic than girls and that the impact of witnessing abuse may extend to less obvious domains, such as children assuming personal responsibility for the violence. Methodological issues associated with research on child witnesses to domestic violence are noted, literature on programs and services for children who have observed domestic violence between their parents is briefly examined, and elements of a comprehensive program to address the impact of witnessing violence on children are outlined. A research project conducted to study children's programming in New York domestic violence shelters is reported that focused on intervention with children (assessment, treatment, group work, discipline, and resources). 35 references and 1 table