Is There a Link Between Child Maltreatment and Woman Battering? (From Child Abuse and Neglect: Guidelines for Identification, Assessment, and Case Management, P 138-143, 2003, Marilyn Strachan Peterson and Michael Durfee, eds. -- See NCJ-200932)

• NCJ Number: 200955
• Author(s): Connie Mitchell M.D.
• Date Published: 2003
• Length: 6 pages
• Sale Source: Volcano Press, Inc
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Issue Overview; Instructional Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

After reviewing the epidemiology/statistics related to a possible link between child maltreatment and woman battering, this chapter presents findings from studies of the psychological impact on children of witnessing family violence, and implications are drawn for the physician's role in screening, assessment, reporting, and training for child patients.

Abstract

There are two types of data that document the adverse effects of domestic violence upon children in homes where it occurs. One group consists of children who witness family violence and are also physically abused, neglected, or endangered. Another group consists of children who witness domestic violence in their families, but are not themselves physically abused. For the latter group, studies have documented the psychological impact of witnessing family violence. Child witnesses of domestic violence have been found to exhibit more aggressive and antisocial behaviors, as well as fearful and inhibited behaviors; they tend to show lower social competence than other children and may exhibit symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder. There is some support for the link between witnessing violence and subsequent violent behavior by the child. Children who witness family violence and are also themselves physically abused have been found to exhibit significantly more problem behaviors than children who have only witnessed family violence. This chapter advises that all children should be medically screened for their experiences with abuse and violence, including witnessing violence. Abused and neglected children should be screened for the possibility that their mothers are being physically assaulted in the home, and battered women should be screened for the possibility that the children are being abused or neglected. Further, health-care providers should consider whether medical problems in children may have a stress-related origin due to family violence. In presenting a general screening policy for health-care providers, the chapter focuses on who should be screened routinely for domestic violence, training in the taking of health histories, how screening should occur, how a screening policy should be implemented, and when child exposure to intimate partner violence becomes child maltreatment. Collaboration between battered women shelters, children's protective services, health-care providers, and schools is recommended. A relevant case vignette with follow-up questions is presented, and relevant California penal code reporting-law sections are listed. 4 resources and 15 references