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Developmental changes in threat and self-blame for preschoolers exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV)
- Authors:
- MILLER Laura E., HOWELL Kathryn H., GRAHAM-BERMANN Sandra A.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 29(9), 2014, pp.1535-1553.
- Publisher:
- Sage
The presence of threat and self-blame in children exposed to violence in the home has been linked to a number of negative behavioural and emotional consequences across developmental periods. Little research, however, has examined self-reported attributions of threat and self-blame in children under the age of 6. The current study evaluated the developmental trajectories of appraisals of threat and self-blame in preschool-aged children recently exposed to intimate partner violence. It was hypothesised that (a) children’s appraisals of threat and self-blame would naturally decrease over time and (b) there would be a main effect of child sex on appraisals of self-blame but not threat, such that girls would report higher levels of self-blame than boys. Participants included 68 preschool-aged children (ages 4-6) who were interviewed at two time points over the course of 1 year. Multilevel modeling was employed to examine the effects of violence exposure, child age, and child sex over time. Children’s attributions of threat were stable over the course of 1 year, but greater child age was related to lower appraisals of threat. Children’s appraisals of self-blame increased over time, and there was a trend for girls to report more self-blame than did boys. It appears that without intervention, young children may be at risk of developing relatively stable maladaptive cognitive patterns, thereby heightening their risk of subsequent developmental psychopathology. Furthermore, girls may need additional intervention targeted at addressing attributions of self-blame. (Edited publisher abstract)
Predictors of preschoolers’ appraisals of conflict in families experiencing intimate partner violence
- Authors:
- MILLER Laura E., HOWELL Kathryn H., GRAHAM-BERMANN Sandra A.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 27(3), February 2012, pp.568-586.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Children who witness intimate partner violence (IPV) are known to be of risk of a range of emotional and behavioural problems. The children’s cognitive appraisals of the conflict they witness, particularly their perceptions of threat and self-blame, may contribute to this psychopathology. This study aimed to explore how individual factors may influence the development of cognitive appraisals of conflict in preschool-aged children exposed to severe IPV. The study participants were 116 mothers and their children aged 4-6 years who had been exposed to IPV in the past 2 years. The mothers and children were interviewed using empirically-validated measures to assess level of violence, maternal and child mental health, and children’s appraisals of conflict. The results suggest that preschool-aged children are able to meaningfully respond to statements about their parents’ conflicts. Both mothers’ and children’s reports of violence were significantly associated with children’s appraisals of threat, but not with appraisals of self-blame. Girls reported significantly higher levels of self-blame than did boys. Children’s cognitive appraisals of threat and self-blame did not vary by age or ethnicity. These findings suggest that interventions designed for young children might specifically target their cognitive appraisals to help them regulate their feelings of being threatened.
Mediators and moderators of change in adjustment following intervention for children exposed to intimate partner violence
- Authors:
- GRAHAM-BERMANN Sandra A., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 26(9), June 2011, pp.1815-1833.
- Publisher:
- Sage
An intervention programme for children aged 6 to 12 exposed to interpersonal violence (IPV) had previously been found to be successful in reducing their internalising and externalising behaviour problems. The intervention comprised 2 components: the Kids’ Club and the mother’s Parenting Empowerment Program. This study sought to evaluate the factors that may contribute to the efficacy of this intervention. Both fixed and modifiable risk factors that predicted change in children’s adjustment after the intervention were identified and tested. The study sample comprised 180 children, 120 who had participated in the intervention programme and a comparison group of 60. All mothers and children were interviewed before the intervention and after the 10-week programme. The results found a significant relationship between the extent of exposure to IPV, gender, change in mothers’ mental health, and change in child adjustment. Among fixed factors, length of exposure to violence was found to moderate the relationship between the amount of the child’s and mother’s participation in the intervention and change in child adjustment, specifically internalising behavioural problems. Among the modifiable risk factors, change in mother’s mental health, specifically symptoms of posttraumatic stress, was found to mediate the relationship between the amount of intervention participation and change in child adjustment. These findings can be used to inform and enhance evidence-based clinical services for children exposed to IPV.
Is disclosure therapeutic for children following exposure to traumatic violence?
- Authors:
- GRAHAM-BERMANN Sandra A., KULKARNI Madhur R., KANUKOLLU Shanta (Nishi)
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 26(5), March 2011, pp.1056-1076.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This study aimed to examine disclosure and the consequences of disclosure for children exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV). In particular, the study aimed to: identify the proportion of children who spontaneously disclosed their experiences in a group therapy intervention; assess the relationship between disclosure in therapy and post-intervention change in behavioural adjustment, self-competence and beliefs; and identify individual child and treatment-related factors associated with disclosure. The sample comprised 121 children aged 6 to 12 years who participated in a community-based intervention programme for children exposed to IPV. The therapists documented children’s spontaneous disclosure in their group. Mothers and children completed demographic and standardised attitudinal and mental health questionnaires. The findings showed that 52% of the children spontaneously disclosed during therapy. Child ethnicity, harm to the child, internalising behavioural adjustment problems, and engagement in therapy predicted disclosure. Disclosure within the group was associated with gains for individual children in internalising behavioural adjustment problems and an improvement in attitudes and beliefs concerning the acceptability of violence.
Ethnicity and risk for symptoms of posttraumatic stress following intimate partner violence: prevalence and predictors in European American and African American women
- Authors:
- LILLY Michelle M., GRAHAM-BERMANN Sandra A.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 24(1), January 2009, pp.3-19.
- Publisher:
- Sage
The present study uses a feminist theoretical framework to explore risk factors for the development of posttraumatic stress symptoms following intimate partner violence, with a community sample of 120 low-income European American and African American women. Hierarchical regression analyses were used to examine demographic, violence, and mental health variables that predict posttraumatic stress symptoms. The data reveal that African American women report lower levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms than do their European American peers. This difference was observed despite the presence of more empirically identified risk factors for African American women. Regression analyses show that symptoms of depression increase risk for posttraumatic stress for both groups. However, a difference was observed such that past victimization increase risk for only European American women, whereas amount of psychological violence in the previous year increases risk for only African American women. Potential explanations for observed ethnic differences are offered.
The moderating effects of parenting stress on children's adjustment in woman-abusing families
- Authors:
- LEVENDOSKY Alytia A., GRAHAM-BERMANN Sandra A.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 13(3), June 1998, pp.383-397.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Examines the potential moderating effects of maternal parenting stress on children's adjustment in homes with varying levels of domestic violence in the USA. The sample consisted of sheltered battered women and their children, and nonsheltered women and children from the same community. Results indicated that children's adjustment was significantly predicted by parenting stress after controlling for psychological and physical abuse of the mother. Results are discussed in light of protective and vulnerability factors for children's adjustment in high-risk families.
Traumatic stress symptoms in children of battered women
- Authors:
- GRAHAM-BERMANN Sandra A., LEVENDOSKY Alytia A.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 13(1), February 1998, pp.111-128.
- Publisher:
- Sage
The post-traumatic stress symptoms of children ages 7 to 12 were assessed by their mothers, who had experienced emotional and physical abuse during the past year. A measure of child symptoms based on DSM-IV criteria was used. Finds that children with PTSD symptoms had significantly more internalising behavioural problems, as expected; they also had more externalising problems than did children without trauma symptoms.