Jacquelyn S. Pennings

Evaluating Animal-Assisted Therapy in Group Treatment for Child Sexual Abuse

This study evaluates and compares the effectiveness of three group interventions on trauma symptoms for children who have been sexually abused. All of the groups followed the same treatment protocol, with two of them incorporating variations of animal-assisted therapy. A total of 153 children ages 7 to 17 who were in group therapy at a Child Advocacy Center participated in the study. Results indicate that children in the groups that included therapy dogs showed significant decreases in trauma symptoms including anxiety, depression, anger, post-traumatic stress disorder, dissociation, and sexual concerns. In addition, results show that children who participated in the group with therapeutic stories showed significantly more change than the other groups. Implications and suggestions for further research are discussed.

Severe punishment of children by staff in Romanian placement centers for school-aged children: Effects of child and institutional characteristics

The objective of this study was to determine whether childrens characteristics and/or institutional characteristics were predictors of severe punishments (including beatings) and/or frequency of punishments that children received from staff in Romanian institutions. The data was hierarchical with institutionalized children (N=1391) nested within 44 institutions, and the measurement of punishments by the staff and frequency of punishments had a binary distribution. Thus, multilevel logistic regression models were used to examine the effects of individual and institutional level variables on reported punishments and to account for the clustering of the children within institutions. Two general patterns of results emerged. First, regarding individual level variables, it was found that: (1) amount of time spent by children in their current institutions had a significant effect on the probability of being punished by staff and the frequency of this punishment; (2) the probability of being punished was higher for boys than for girls; and (3) having no siblings in the institution increased the odds of being punished several times. Second, regarding institutional level variables: (4) being in placement centers for school-aged children with a traditional type of institutional organization increased the odds of severe punishment compared to a familial/mixed type. The results of the present study highlight the importance of understanding the consequences of institutionalization in a broader way, where children not only experienced early severe psychosocial deprivation as documented in other studies, but also high levels of severe punishments administered by institutional staff.

Yoga for Self-Care and Burnout Prevention Among Nurses

The promotion of self-care and the prevention of burnout among nurses is a public health priority. Evidence supports the efficacy of yoga to improve physical and mental health outcomes, but few studies have examined the influence of yoga on nurse-specific outcomes. The purpose of this pilot-level randomized controlled trial was to examine the efficacy of yoga to improve self-care and reduce burnout among nurses. Compared with controls (n = 20), yoga participants (n = 20) reported significantly higher self-care as well as less emotional exhaustion and depersonalization upon completion of an 8-week yoga intervention. Although the control group demonstrated no change throughout the course of the study, the yoga group showed a significant improvement in scores from pre- to post-intervention for self-care (p < .001), mindfulness (p = .028), emotional exhaustion (p = .008), and depersonalization (p = .007) outcomes. Implications for practice are discussed.

Connecting Partner Violence to Poor Functioning for Mothers and Children: Modeling Intergenerational Outcomes

Violence against women, a global epidemic, frequently begins in childhood. Many abused women are mothers and many children witness the abuse of their mothers. To better understand the intergenerational impact and associated health outcomes, we tested 300 mother-child pairs using structural equation modeling. Mother’s history of abuse during childhood directly impacted the level of adult abuse, which predicted her child’s witness to the abuse. Maternal pain predicted maternal symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Mother’s mental health predicted the degree of child dysfunction, such as aggression and depression. These findings offer evidence for the urgent need to provide mental health interventions to improve maternal functioning of abused mothers as a conduit intervention to prevent child dysfunction and promote mother-child health.

Characteristics and prenatal care utilisation of Romanian pregnant women

Abstract Objective To describe the degree to which Romanian women access free prenatal care services, and to describe the demographic profile of women who are at risk for underutilisation. Methods Secondary data (n = 914) were taken from a large, nationally representative sample of Romanian mothers and children (N = 2117). Kotelchucks Adequacy of Prenatal Care Utilisation Index was used to measure the adequacy of prenatal care. Results Seventy-eight percent of mothers underutilised prenatal care services. Those who did so to the greatest degree were likely to be young, members of an ethnic minority, poor, uneducated, and rural. Conversely, those who utilised care to the greatest degree were likely to be older, members of the ethnic majority, wealthy, educated, and city dwelling. Conclusion Despite the fact that many of the risk factors for underutilisation in this sample were similar to those found elsewhere in Europe and the developed world, these findings illustrate the worrisome magnitude of the problem in Romania, particularly among women with low levels of income and educational attainment. Future studies should examine factors that contribute to underutilisation, whether it corresponds to negative health outcomes, and whether targeted social interventions and outreach could help improve care.

Modeling the intergenerational impact of partner abuse on maternal and child function at 24 months post outreach: Implications for practice and policy

OBJECTIVE Many women are exposed to partner violence during their lifetime which affects mental health and child development. This study revalidates an intergenerational model connecting partner violence to poor functioning for mothers and children using structural equation techniques. METHOD A longitudinal design collected data on 300 mother-child pairs. Comparisons between the model, tested at study entry and again at 24 months, are reported. Maternal measures included childhood experiences of abuse, partner abuse, chronic pain, and mental health. The Child Behavior Checklist measured child function. RESULTS Comparison of both models revealed that maternal chronic pain, maternal mental health, and child witnessing of mothers abuse remain strong predictors of child dysfunction. Maternal social support and self-efficacy are significant predictors of more positive maternal mental health with a conduit effect on child behavior. CONCLUSION Intimate partner violence directly impacts the victim and also has a secondary impact on the children of abuse victims.

A Risk Assessment Tool to Predict Sustained PTSD Symptoms Among Women Reporting Abuse

Abstract Background: Nationally and worldwide, 30% or more of women are likely to have experienced intimate partner violence. Maternal mental health symptoms predict child function. When mothers have sustained posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), their children at are risk for growth and developmental delays and poor behavioral outcomes that may adversely affect the course of their lives. While many who experience trauma will recover without intervention, a significant proportion will experience PTSD, with negative consequences for their personal lives and the lives of their families. Early identification of those at high risk for PTSD symptoms will support early interventions to prevent PTSD and its negative consequences. Methods: This paper describes the development of a tool that can predict PTSD symptoms at 8 months in mothers who are primarily of low socioeconomic status and primarily members of underrepresented groups. The tool consists of four key measures. Conclusions: Using this tool to identify mothers at high risk for sustained PTSD and entering them into early intervention programs may protect mothers and their children from negative outcomes and promote their health and wellbeing.

Predicting Abused Women With Children Who Return to a Shelter Development and Use of a Rapid Assessment Triage Tool

To develop a tool to predict risk for return to a shelter, 150 women with children, exiting a domestic violence shelter, were evaluated every 4 months for 24 months to determine risk factors for returning to a shelter. The study identified four risk factors, including danger for murder, woman’s age (i.e., older women), tangible support (i.e., access to money, transportation), and child witness to verbal abuse of the mother. An easy to use, quick triage tool with a weighted score was derived, which can identify with 90% accuracy abused women with children most likely to return to shelters.

Academic Achievement of Romanian Institutionalized Children: A Social–Ecological Approach

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the self-reported academic performance of Romanian institutionalized children placed in long-term residential centers in 1999 and multiple child- and institution-related variables considered to have an impact on children’s development and their everyday functioning.

Punishment, Peer Exploitation, and Sexual Abuse in Long-Term Romanian Residential Centers: Findings from a Nationally Representative Sample of Institutionalized Children

In this study, we investigated the prevalence of abuse (i.e., punishments, exploitation, and sexual abuse) experienced or witnessed by Romanian children placed in long-term residential centers in 1999. Data based on a nationally representative sample of 1511 (802 boys and 709 girls) children with ages between 7 and 19 years (M = 12.67; SD = 2.84) and living in 53 long-term residential centers was analyzed to identify the prevalence of abuse awareness and victimization.