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Objective: To design and test a rapid assessment tool for predicting dysfunctional behavior of children who live in homes where their mother reports recent physical or sexual partner abuse. Methods: A cohort analysis was completed. 300 abused mothers accessing services for partner abuse were interviewed to determine risk factors for dysfunctional behavior of their children. Mothers were asked if they had taken their child to a health care provider within the last four months as well as questions about their functioning and the behaviors of the child during the same four months. Results: Among the 300 children living in a violent home, 81% had seen a health care provider within the preceding four months. Model testing revealed among the children classified as having the highest risk for dysfunctional behavior (predicted probability of clinical behaviors > 75%), between 82-100% of these children presented with clinical level behaviors when their mother sought services for the abuse. Conclusions: The Rapid Assessment Triage tools offer an evidence-based, high predictability method for rapid assessment and triage of children who are most likely to have dysfunctional behaviors when their abused mothers seek services. Since 81% of the children had seen a healthcare provider within the preceding 4 months of their mother seeking services, the triage tools offer healthcare providers an opportunity to assess the risk of dysfunctional behavior of children with a mother who screens positive for abuse. To maximize child health, mothers require assessment for partner violence and assessment for dysfunctional behavior of their children.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a common public health problem that has serious consequences for women in terms of health and functioning. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the major health issues that women face after experiencing intimate partner violence. There is evidence that sufficient and sustainable employment might decrease risk for PTSD in women who have experienced violence. The purpose of this study is to investigate if variables related to employment (i.e., income, hours worked per week, job benefits) affect risk for PTSD over 5 years after women left abusive relationships. Data collection took place between 2010 and 2016. To test the hypothesis that present employment variables predict the woman's PTSD in the future, a series of conditional latent growth curve (LGC) models were conducted. The overall models indicated that there appears to be a consistent impact of economic factors on PTSD symptoms; however, the variable with the greatest impact was the number of hours worked. Women who had full-time or near full-time employment were at less risk to have PTSD in the future. These findings support efforts to increase access to full time work for women who have experienced intimate violence., Author(s): Heidi Gilroy [sup.1] , John Maddoux [sup.2] , Judith McFarlane [sup.3] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.430695.d, 0000 0004 0444 5322, Memorial Hermann Hospital-Texas Medical Center, , 6411 Fannin St, 77030, [...]

Poverty is a risk factor for intimate partner violence (IPV); however, little is known about the economic state at which women are no longer at risk for IPV due to their economic status, which is economic solvency. A Model of Economic Solvency in women has been developed from the literature that includes four factors: human capital, social capital, sustainable employment, and independence. The purpose of this research is to validate the model in a sample of women reporting IPV. A confirmatory factor analysis was performed to test the model using data from 280 abused women. Examination of the model yielded adequate fit with the data, indicating that the model is valid for use with women reporting IPV. The validation of the model offers strength of association between constructs and can be used to plan interventions to improve economic solvency in abused women to potentially reduce violence and facilitate recovery. Keywords: intimate partner violence, U.S. violence, poverty, economic solvency, women's health, Introduction Economic issues are often major factors contributing to the beginning and continuation of intimate partner violence. Although intimate partner violence against women can occur in any relationship, women with [...]

Successful intimate partner violence (IPV) safety, advocacy, and intervention programs require recruitment and retention of persons of experience and commitment. To examine lived experiences of IPV advocates working in transitional shelter programs for women exiting IPV relationships, focus group discussions of 15 transitional housing and IPV shelter caseworkers were analyzed using the Colaizzi seven-step phenomenological method of analysis. Several themes emerged through the analysis, including historical, intergenerational pathways to IPV work and unity in sisterhood with IPV clients. The seven-step Colaizzi method is presented with examples of how each Colaizzi step yields an understanding of what motivates and sustains IPV caseworkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intimate partner violence affects one in three U.S. women. Children often witness the violence. Methods: A 4-year cohort analysis of 300 mother-child dyads used latent growth curve techniques to examine the impact of partner violence on mothers' and children's mental health and function over time. The dyads entered the study when the mother sought safe shelter or justice services. Data was collected every four months, 13 times. Results: Four models were derived, each with good fit. Maternal age, Adverse Childhood Events, and ethnicity determined the level of maternal PTSD, depression, and anxiety at baseline. Mothers' self-efficacy and marginalization determined if maternal mental health symptoms decreased or increased over 4-years. Maternal symptom levels determined if child dysfunctions persisted over time. Conclusion: This analysis provides longitudinal evidence that maternal mental health determines children's recovery from or persistence of behavioral dysfunctions. Primary prevention and informed referral has the potential to improve child outcomes., Author(s): Judith McFarlane [sup.1] , Nina M. Fredland [sup.1] , Lene Symes [sup.1] , Weidan Zhou [sup.2] , Ernest N. Jouriles [sup.3] , Mary Ann Dutton [sup.4] , Christopher S. [...]

Approximately 3,300 children are affected by intimate partner femicide each year. Despite the multitude of stressors and the potential for negative outcomes, little is known about these children or their caregivers. This in-depth interview study used family stress theory to explore caregivers' and children's adjustment after intimate partner femicide in 10 families. Data were analyzed qualitatively using framework analysis. Results suggest that children and their caregivers manage numerous health and adjustment challenges in the context of ongoing hardships, resource-poor environments, and continued efforts to come to terms with the loss of their loved one and its effects on their family. Future directions are provided, with a specific focus on family-centered, strengths-based, and advocacy approaches. (Contains 1 table.)

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., Author(s): Nina Fredland[sup.1] , Lene Symes[sup.1] , Heidi Gilroy[sup.1] , Rene Paulson[sup.1] , Angeles Nava[sup.1] , Judith McFarlane[sup.1] , Jacquelyn Pennings[sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) Nelda C. Stark College of Nursing, [...]

Violence against women is a global epidemic with potential consequences of injury, illness, and death. Children exposed to the violence may also be impacted with functional impairments. Little is known of the intergenerational impact of violence experienced by the mother from an intimate partner on functioning of her children. No dyad analysis was found in the literature. To examine the inter-generational impact of violence against women on the behavioral functioning of children, 300 mothers reporting intimate partner abuse and one randomly chosen child, age 18 months to 16 years of age; were evaluated for borderline and clinical diagnostic levels of problem behaviors. Linear, Logistic, and Ordinal regression models were applied. Mothers' problem behavior scores were significantly related to children's problem behavior scores (internalizing r = 0.611, externalizing r = 0.494, total problems r = 0.662, all ps < 0.001). Mothers who reported clinical and borderline clinical internalized problems (i.e., depression, anxiety) were 7 times more likely to have children with the same problems and mothers with borderline clinical and clinical external problems (i.e., aggression, hostility) were 4.5 times more likely to have children with the same external problems. These dyadic analyses provide evidence of a direct relationship of maternal functioning on child behavioral functioning. Intervention strategies to decrease internalizing maternal behavioral problems, such as depression, anxiety, and post traumatic stress disorder, and/or externalizing problems, such as hostility and aggression, can be expected to have a pass through, secondary impact on the behavioral functioning of children. Awareness of the relationship between intimate partner violence against mothers and child behavioral function can support interventions that decrease the distress experienced by mothers and their children, interrupt intergenerational transmission of abusive behaviors, and promote better maternal child functioning. Keywords Intimate partner violence * Mother-child dyads * Intergenerational, Introduction In the United States (US) and worldwide, it is estimated that 30%, or more, of women have experienced intimate partner violence [8, 33]. Children of abused women often witness [...]