Evaluation of a Group Treatment Approach for Children Who Have Witnessed Wife Abuse

• NCJ Number: 157542
• Journal: Journal of Family Violence Volume: 10 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1995) Pages: 295-306
• Author(s): J M Wagar; M R Rodway
• Date Published: 1995
• Length: 12 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a time-limited group treatment program developed for children who witnessed wife abuse and compared these children with a group who received no treatment.

Abstract

The sample of children, between 8 and 13 years of age in both treatment and control groups, was referred to community agencies. The evaluation was based on the Child Witness to Violence Questionnaire and measured three variables: attitudes and responses to anger, knowledge of support and safety skills, and sense of responsibility for the parents and for the violence. An analysis of covariance of pretreatment/posttreatment data showed significant differences between groups on attitudes and responses to anger and sense of responsibility. The second variable, safety and support skills, showed no significant differences between groups. Factors deemed important in the interpretation of study results are noted, and implications of the findings for group treatment program change are discussed. 28 references and 2 tables