NCJ Number
189378
Date Published
October 2000
Length
31 pages
Annotation
This report presents the methodology and findings of a study that assessed the psychological impact of domestic violence on victim-mothers and their children in Hawaii.
Abstract
A total of 25 mothers and 25 children were identified by domestic violence service agencies and referred for independent interviews and psychological assessment. Mothers and children were included in the study if they had been out of the abusive relationship for at least 6 months. Structured interviews were conducted to collect information on demographics, abuse experiences, maternal decision making processes, and psychological difficulties. Children were interviewed about their memories of abuse, their own exposure to physical and sexual abuse, and their attempts to intervene in order to stop the violence. The psychological assessment of the children focused on assessing posttraumatic symptoms. The mothers reported exposure to significant levels of verbal and physical abuse by their spouse. They indicated that their children were often present to witness the abuse. The children's reports of abuse in their families substantiated those of their mothers and indicated substantial degrees of child abuse as well. About half of the mothers and the children showed significant signs of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 2 years on average after leaving the abusive relationship, demonstrating the need for effective mental health interventions with these families. PTSD in the mothers was associated with numerous other indicators of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral dysfunction, including depression, dissociation, anger, and reduced scores on measures of parenting skills. The report recommends that an early detection policy aimed at identifying psychological symptoms in children who witness domestic violence be implemented. Psychological, emotional, and behavioral difficulties in abused mothers and their children should be treated at the earliest possible stage of intervention to forestall the emergence of more serious effects and problems. Further, media information efforts should be developed to inform mothers that the impact of domestic violence on their children vastly outweighs any perceived negative effects of leaving an abuser. 12 tables and 18 references