NCJ Number
208553
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 17 Issue: 9 Dated: September 2002 Pages: 915-936
Editor(s)
Jon R. Conte
Date Published
September 2002
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This article presents the results from a study on the effectiveness of a family-centered, strengths-based advocacy intervention for abused women and their children.
Abstract
In the past, research has neglected to pay attention to the experiences and needs of children who witness their mothers being abused. It was hypothesized that both mothers and their children would benefit from an intervention. In an attempt to expose the benefits of an intervention, a longitudinal study was conducted, employing multi-method strategies to measure children’s exposure to abuse and their self-competence over an 8-month period to examine the effectiveness of a strengths and community-based support and advocacy intervention for battered women and their children. Women in the study had at least one child between 7 and 11 years old living with them, had to plan on remaining in the area for the upcoming 8 months, and the mother had to have experienced some type of physical violence from an intimate partner or ex-partner in the prior 4 months. The experimental intervention involved advocacy for mothers and their children and a 10-week support and education group for the children. The study provided preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of a family-centered, strengths-based advocacy intervention. Children who received the advocacy intervention showed increased self-competence. The findings suggest that strengths-based advocacy services may result in greater overall well-being for women and abusive partners and their children. References