Susan K. Wilson

Children of battered women

Definition and Scope of the Problem Family Violence and Childrens Development Understanding the Impact of Traumatic Events in the Lives of Children Issues in Assessment and Intervention Strategies Implications for Childrens Services

The measurement of maltreatment: A comparison of approaches☆

This study examined the comparability and predictive validity of three approaches to the measurement of child maltreatment. Adolescents (N = 160, aged 11-17) were randomly selected from the open caseload of a child protection agency. Global ratings of maltreatment severity were made by three reporting sources: researchers on the basis of protection agency case files, protection agency social workers, and the adolescents themselves. Ratings were made of five types of maltreatment: physical, sexual, emotional, neglect, and exposure to family violence. Self-reported (YSR) and caretaker-reported (CBCL) adjustment measures were also obtained for each subject. Results indicated that over 90% of the sample had experienced more than one type of maltreatment. Comparison of ratings across sources indicated considerable disagreement with respect to judgments of maltreatment occurrence and severity. Relative to professional ratings, adolescent ratings were better predictors of externalizing and internalizing symptomatology in both univariate and multivariate analyses.

Child witnesses to violence between parents: Critical issues in Behavioral and social adjustment

This study examined the impact of exposure to family violence on childrens adjustment. Two groups of residents of shelters for battered women (current and former residents) were compared to a nonviolent control group. All three groups of mothers completed interviews and selfreport questionnaires related to both their own and their childrens adjustment. Children recently witnessing violence tended to have the lowest levels of social competence ratings, and their mothers reported the most health and emotional difficulties. Former residents of shelters experienced the highest level of family/social disadvantage. The results are discussed in the context of previous research findings, and implications for intervention programs are outlined.

Emotional and physical health problems of battered women

The present study focused on the emotional and physical health problems of battered women by comparing a sample of residents in shelters with a group of women in the community matched for family income, length of marriage, and number of children on the General Health Questionnaire. The results indicated that battered women report a significantly higher level of somatic complaints, anxiety, and depression. These effects tended to be associated with other life stressors and children with serious behavior problems. The implications of the study are discussed in terms of assessing the needs of battered women and their children as well as being vigilant for family violence as an etiological factor for other presenting problems.

Children Exposed to Wife Abuse: An Intervention Model

WIFE BATTERING is an issue of major social concern. Estimates that one in ten women are abused by their partner exemplifies the seriousness and pervasiveness of the problem.1 Whereas most research has focused on the abusers and victims of wife assault, relatively little attention has been paid to the children who witness the violence between their parents. Previous research has indicated that children exposed to wife abuse may be at risk for having emotional and behavioral adjustment problems.2 For example, David Wolfe and colleagues found that of 102 children from violent families, 47 percent of boys and 36 percent of girls fell within the clinical range of behavior problems.3 This rate was 2.5 times greater than