The impact of domestic violence on the maternal-child relationship and preschool-age children's functioning.

Abstract

Although preschool-age children are at risk for witnessing domestic violence, the majority of research has focused on children ages 6 to 12 years. This study examines the mediating role of the mother-child relationship on preschool-age children's functioning in families experiencing domestic violence. Maternal report and behavioral observations of mother-child interactions were used to assess relationship quality. Participants consisted of 103 children and their mothers. The data fit the model well but indicated that some of the correlations were not in the expected direction. Although depressed mothers were struggling with parenting, other mothers appeared to be compensating for the violence by becoming more effective parents. Domestic violence negatively impacted children's behavior with their mothers in interactions but did not influence maternal report of problem behaviors, suggesting that the impact of domestic violence begins very early and in the realm of relationships rather than in mental health.

La complexité et la pluralité des expériences maternelles en contexte de violence conjugale

“…De plus, elles prodiguent des soins à leurs enfants et sont protectrices, et elles évitent d'employer des stratégies négatives pouvant détruire l'image personnelle de l'enfant. Une autre recherche réalisée par Levendosky, Huth-Bocks, Shapiro et Semel (2003) a révélé que les mères les plus sévèrement violentées ont rapporté plus d'efficacité parentale et un attachement plus solide avec leur enfant que les mères violentées moins sévèrement. Selon les auteurs, ce résultat peut s'expliquer par le fait que les mères veulent être un parent efficace et développer un lien d'attachement sûr avec l'enfant afin de compenser la violence et les pratiques parentales négatives du père.…”

The Cost of Violence on Children

“…Research also posits that there is a strong correlation between marital conflict strategies and children's notions about conflict strategies with peers (Jouriles, Murphy, & O' Leary, 1989;Schudlich, Shamir, and Cummings 2004). However, research also suggests that domestic violence would not necessarily result in negative parent-child attachment or externalizing problems such as aggressive behaviour (Levendosky, Huth-Bocks, Shapiro, & Semel, 2003).…”

Young children's responses to September 11th: The New York City experience

“…While the critical importance of parental mental and physical health (Miller, 1996;Osofsky, 1995;Laor et al, 1997) and parenting (e.g., Banyard, Rozelle, & Englund, 2001;Levendosky et al, 2003;MacFarlane, 1987;Appleyard & Osofsky, 2003;Punamaki, Qouta, & Sarraj, 1997) in influencing children's responses to trauma has been established, qualitative findings on children's functioning are presented here separately from parental responses. We believe these descriptions vividly represent the types of behaviors clinicians, educators, childcare professionals, medical staff, and other helping professionals encounter when working with very young children in a postdisaster context.…”

“…What is known about trauma in children under 5 years of age comes from several areas including studies on exposure to domestic and interpersonal violence (Groves, 2002;Kitzmann, Gaylord, Holt, & Kenny, 2003;Levendosky, Huth-Bocks, Shapiro, & Semel, 2003;Lieberman, Van Horn, & Ozer, 2005;Osofsky, 1995Osofsky, , 1997, writings on assessment and intervention with young children exposed to violence (e.g., Osofsky, 2004;Scheeringa, Zeanah, Drell, & Larrieu, 1995;Scheeringa, Zeanah, Myers, & Putnam, 2003), intervention studies (Lieberman, Van Horn, & Ippen, 2005), and observational case studies of infants' and toddlers' responses to traumatic events (Drell, Gaensbauer, Siegel, & Sugar, 1995;Gaensbauer, 1995;Sugar, 1993). These writings have demonstrated the potential for detrimental impact of trauma on young children, with greater vulnerability ascribed to younger children (e.g., Kitzmann et al, 2003).…”