W H A T A R E T H E E F F E C T S ?

Children and Intimate Partner Violence

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)

Occurs in predominantly single head households in low socioeconomic status areas (Fantuzzo, Fusco, Mohr & Perry, 2007; Knutson, Lawrence, Taber, Bank & DeGarmo, 2009).

Varies in frequency and intensity from verbal threats to assault with a weapon (Knutson et al., 2009).

Strong studies will clearly define the type of IPV and the frequency as this plays a role in the effect on the child (Knutson et al., 2009)

Environmental Factors Surrounding IPV

Child neglect and parental discord is often present in these households (Goddard & Bedi, 2009; Huth-Bocks & Hughes, 2007; Mbilinyi, Edleson, Hageneister & Beeman,2007; Moylan, Herrenkohl, Sousa, Tajima, Herrenkohl & Russo, 2009; Owen, Thompson, Shaffer, Jackson & Kaslow, 2009; van de Bosse & McGinn, 2009).

Parental stress negatively impacts the parental-child relationship (Huthbocks & Hughes, 2007).

Many mother’s admit to not being able to care for their child in the manner that they wish too after n IPV episode (Mbilinyi et al., 2007).

Environmental Factors Surrounding IPV Contd.

Parents are more likely to utilize abnormally harsh punishment after IPV (Mbilinyi et al., 2007).

Mother’s report often being hurt because of something that their child did (Mbilinyi et al., 2007).

Children model parents and may learn ineffective boundaries and poor conflict resolution (Adler, Rosenfeld & Proctor, 2009).

Adaptability is often too high or low which creates turmoil in the family (Adler et al., 2009).

Internalization

Occurs when children witness IPV and hold onto the abuse (Glicken, 2004; Kashani & Allan, 1998).

Can present in the form of anxiety and depression in children (Goddard & Bedi, 2009; Kashani & Allan, 1998).

Depression may also be present due to the child modeling the abused parent (Kashani & Allan, 1998).

Can result in Lockage Phenomenon where the child sees only two ways out of the situation: suicide or homicide (Kashani & Allan, 1998).

Externalization

Children utilize violence because they see it being utilized (Glicken, 2004; Kashani & Allan, 1998).

Adolescent males are at the highest risk for externalizing behaviors (Goddard & Bedi, 2009; Kashani & Allan, 1998).

Can include anger, violence and running away from home (Goddard & Bedi, 2009; Kashani & Allan, 1998).

Social Implications

Children suffer from impaired social development (Kashani & Allan, 1998).

Implications can include a lack of attachment to others, perceived diminished social support and decreased social integration (Kashani & Allan, 1998).

Aggression and antisocial behaviors can also impact adult development and relationships (Glicken, 2004; Kashani & Allan, 1998).

Potential Flaws in Research Design

Many studies involving IPV exposure are flawed due to the fact that they did not take into account the type of exposure and violence (Knutson et al., 2009).

Varying degrees of exposure and violence can affect the way that the child is impacted (Kashani & Allan, 1998; Knutson et al., 2009).

Potential Flaws in Research Design Contd.

Studies conducted by van de Bosse and McGinn (2009) and Fantuzzo ,Fusco, Mohr & Perry (2007) utilized only reports from Child Protective Services and police reports.

In rural areas police and CPS are rarely contacted and in urban areas police are generally only called when the violence escalates to extreme levels (Fantuzzo et al., 2007).

This data is largely second hand and biased (Fantuzzo et al., 2007).

How to Strengthen Research

Data should be collected first hand from the source. This can be witnessed in the research collected by ; Mbilinyi, Edleson, Hageneister & Beeman (2007) who gathered data from mothers who were abused in an anonymous telephone survey.

As noted previously, IPV must be appropriately defined for accurate research (Knutson et al., 2009).

Discussion

Children being present for IPV episodes shows a very weak correlation with behavioral problems (Goddard & Bedi, 2009; Huth-Bocks & Hughes, 2007; Mbilinyi et al., 2007; Moylan et al., 2009; Owen et al., 2009).

There appears to be a stronger link between the environment which is present in these homes and the internalizing and externalizing behaviors the children exhibit(Goddard & Bedi, 2009; Huth-Bocks & Hughes, 2007; Mbilinyi et al., 2007; Moylan et al., 2009; Owen et al., 2009).

References

Adler, R.B., Rosenfeld, L.B. & Proctor, R.F. (2007). Interplay: The process of interpersonal communication. New York: Oxford University Press, Inc.

Fantuzzo, J., Fusco, R., Mohr, W. & Perry, M. (2007). Domestic violence and children’s presence: A population-based study of law enforcement surveillance of domestic violence. Journal of Family Violence, 22(6), 331-340. doi: 10.1007/s10896-007-9080-4

Glicken, M.D. (2004). Violent young children. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.

Goddard, C. & Bedi, G. (2010). Intimate partner violence and child abuse: A child centered-perspective. Child Abuse Review, 19(1), 5-20. DOI: 10.1002/car.1084

Huth-Bocks, A. & Hughes, H. (2008). Parenting stress, parenting behavior, and children’s adjustment in families experiencing intimate partner violence. Journal of Family Violence, 23(4), 243-251. doi: 10.1007/s10896-007-9148-1

Kashani, H.K. & Allan, W.D. (1998) The impact of family violence on children and adolescents. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.

Knutson, J.F., Lawrence, E., Taber, S.M., Bank, L. & DeGarmo, D.S. (2009). Assessing children’s exposure to intimate partner violence. Clinical Child & Family Psychology Review, 12(2), 157-173. doi: 10.1007/s10567-009-0048-1

Mbilnyi, L., Edleson, J., Hagemesiter, A. & Beeman, S. (2007). What happens to children when their mothers are battered? Results from a four city anonymous telephone survey. Journal of Family Violence, 22(5), 309-317.doi: 10.1007/s10896-007-9087-x

Moylan, C., Herrenkohl, T., Sousa, C., Tajima, E., Herrenkohl, R. & Russo, M. (2010). The effects of child abuse and exposure to domestic violence on adolescent internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. Journal of Family Violence, 25(1), 53-63. doi: 10.1007/s10896-009-9269-9

Owen, A., Thompson, M., Shaffer, A., Jackson, E, & Kaslow, N. (2009). Family variables that mediate the relation between intimate partner violence (IPV) and child adjustment. Journal of family violence, 24(7), 433-445. doi: 10.1007/s10896-009-9239-2

Van den Bosse, S. & McGinn, M.A. (2009). Child welfare professionals’ experiences of childhood exposure to domestic violence. Child Welfare, 88(6), 49-65. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?hid=14&sid=4a870464-6a1c-4b12-bb17-ae3ffc11cd3b%40sessionmgr4&vid=38