New outlook for children who witness domestic violence

New outlook for children who witness domestic violence

By Liz Lockhart

The future for children who witness domestic violence has never looked very promising.  These children have always been seen as being more likely to enter into abusive relationships in adulthood and likely to experience psychological problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at some point.

The University of Missouri has found, in a new study, that there are certain factors that can foster resilience and better the chances to break the cycle of violence for women who, as children,  were exposed to their mothers’ being abused.

Dr. Kim Anderson, associate professor in the MU School of Social Work, found that when mothers were in full-time employment this has a positive influence on their children’s ability to overcome the trauma of witnessing domestic violence.

‘Mothers who work full-time, even in adverse situations, create economic stability and model a strong work ethic, independence and competence.’ Anderson said.

‘This shows the importance of the bond between mothers and children and the importance of positive adult role models in the lives of children who have experienced abuse.’

The researchers also discovered that the children of mothers who experienced mental health problems and domestic abuse and children who witness police involvement in violent incidents have an increased chance of developing PTSD in adulthood..

“The mental health status of mothers affects how they recover from abuse and their parenting style,” Anderson said. “Children whose mothers do not experience mental health problems are less likely to have mental health problems of their own.”

It is difficult to provide abused women with the resources that they need to recover from violent incidents due to recent financial cuts in domestic violence services and advocacy programs says Anderson. 

 “Most of the time, the immediate goal is to find women work rather than help them acquire skills that fit their interests,” Anderson said. “Those jobs are often low-paying and don’t provide the economic sustainability that going back to school and getting a higher education would.”

Source: University of Missouri

Relevant Reading:

Living with domestic violence (blog)

I hope you dance (blog)

Learning to live again after grief (Real Life Story)

Further information on PTSD

PTSD

PTSD after childbirth

The effects of PTSD on a relationship

PTSD film

  

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