NCJ Number
95033
Date Published
1984
Length
25 pages
Annotation
Children of violent families, whether siblings of abused children or offspring of battered women, are at risk for developmental and emotional difficulties.
Abstract
Individual children from violent families may display the effects of violence in a number of ways, including developmental delays, low self-esteem, poor social adjustment, guilt feelings, withdrawal, aggression, and somatic symptoms. Assessment should provide information about the child's ability to get along with others, the nature of contact with the extended family, and the family and interaction dynamics. Physical assessment and developmental assessment also are needed. An assessment of the child's play behavior can prove valuable in elucidating speech delays, feelings, social development, and self-concept. Using assessment data, the nurse should make groupings of information that support possible explanations of identified problems. Planning requires the formulation of goals with the child and the parents. As children from violent families often show developmental delays, developmental stimulation may be required. Play-oriented therapies can help children deal with their feelings, and can be used to develop a positive parent-child relationship. Group therapy can be used to improve peer interactions, deal with feelings, and improve self-esteem. Behavior modification approaches can be useful in managing identified problem behaviors such as aggression. Evaluation must be ongoing and based on established goals. A hypothetical case is presented to illustrate possible client goals and the interventions that can be used to achieve them. Fourteen notes and tables are given.