Associations of Mental and Behavioral Problems among Children Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence Previously and Visits with Their Fathers Who Perpetrated the Violence

Abstract

Background: Intimate partner violence has long-term and negative effects on the health of mothers and children worldwide. This study aimed to identify the mental and behavioral effects of past exposure to intimate partner violence among children and examine their associations with the children's visits with their fathers who perpetrated the intimate partner violence. Methods: A cross-sectional study of women who had been abused by their intimate partners and had one or more children aged 4 -18 years old was conducted from March 2015 to December 2016. Questionnaires were used to collect (1) demographic data about the mothers and children, (2) information about the children's visits with the mother's former partner (i.e., father), and (3) psychological data using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Child Behavior Checklist/4 -18. Results: The average scores and rates of internalizing, externalizing, and total problems among the children who had been exposed to intimate partner violence were: 10.8 (SD = 10.4), 26 (51.0%); 9.0 (SD = 9.0), 14 (27.5%); and 26.3 (SD = 21.5), 15 (29.4%), respectively. Children's visits with fathers who were IPV perpetrators were significantly associated with the internalizing (AOR = 12.6, β = 0.56; p < 0.05) and total problems scores (AOR = 17.9, β = 0.48; p < 0.05). Conclusion: Attention should focus on traumatized children exposed to intimate partner violence, and thorough and cautious assessments and decisions regarding visits with their fathers who are IPV perpetrators are essential to safeguard and improve their mental and behavioral health.

Safe Father–Child Contact Postseparation in Situations of Intimate Partner Violence and Positive Fathering Skills: A Literature Review

“…In this review, the majority of the researchers measured the children’s behavioral problems or the parents’ lack of parenting practices in order to determine the harmful influences on the child’s well-being. For example, parenting stress (Overbeek et al, 2017); the child’s reactions and emotional responses after father–child contact (Kita, Haruna, Yamaji, Matsuzaki, & Kamibeppu, 2017); fathering practices, fathers’ severe substance abuse, and violent behavior toward their partners (Stover & Coates, 2016); the child internalizing and externalizing problems (Hunter & Graham-Bermann, 2013); and the father’s participation in domestic violence perpetrator interventions (Alderson, Kelly, & Westmarland, 2013) were reported as key factors and conditions that were measured by the researchers in order to examine how the fathers’ contact influenced child well-being in a family context. It is sometimes uncertain whether these criteria can be confidently classified as either supportive or detrimental to a child’s well-being.…”

“…However, it is unclear whether these types of interactions would take place in other settings (Bancroft et al, 2012). Kita et al (2017) examined how the visits of fathers are linked to harmful consequences in children’s lives. This study suggests that sensitive and careful procedures can improve safe father contact and children’s well-being (Kita et al, 2017).…”

“…Kita et al (2017) examined how the visits of fathers are linked to harmful consequences in children’s lives. This study suggests that sensitive and careful procedures can improve safe father contact and children’s well-being (Kita et al, 2017). However, this research was limited to showing how perpetrators’ involvement in interventions can impact on safe father contact with the child.…”

“…The circumstances around safe father contact are linked to the efficacy of assessing the potentially harmful behavior of the fathers in their contact with the child by focusing on the collaborative work with domestic violence interventions in order to examine perpetrators’ behavioral change process (Parker et al, 2008). In this assessment, the father’s understanding of the consequences of their violent actions in families on children’s lives impacts on children’s mental, behavioral, and other adjustment problems (Kita et al, 2017). Perpetrators changing their violent behavior and involvement in intervention programs are key circumstances in determining improvements in their parenting practices (Areán & Mederos, 2007).…”

“…Similarly, Humphreys and Stanley (2006) note that child protection issues need attention because children are affected by witnessing or being exposed to abusive behavior. Importantly, Kita, Haruna, Yamaji, Matsuzaki, and Kamibeppu (2017) suggest that a careful assessment of intimate partner violence perpetrators should be conducted in relation to father contact with children in order to improve the children’s mental and behavioral well-being.…”