Resilience Among Children Exposed to Domestic Violence: The Role of Risk and Protective Factors

Abstract

Individual and family characteristics that predict resilience among children exposed to domestic violence (DV) were examined. Mother-child dyads (n = 190) were assessed when the children were 2, 3, and 4 years of age. DV-exposed children were 3.7 times more likely than nonexposed children to develop internalizing or externalizing problems. However, 54% of DV-exposed children maintained positive adaptation and were characterized by easy temperament (odds ratio [OR] = .39, d = .52) and nondepressed mothers (OR = 1.14, d = .07), as compared to their nonresilient counterparts. Chronic DV was associated with maternal depression, difficult child temperament, and internalizing or externalizing symptoms. Results underscore heterogeneous outcomes among DV-exposed children and the influence of individual and family characteristics on children's adaptation.

L’exposition à la violence familiale

“…Il est important de mentionner que les nombreuses conséquences associées à l'exposition à la violence familiale sont modulées par la présence, ou l'absence, de divers facteurs jouant un rôle aggravant ou protecteur (Fortin et al, 2000 ;Martinez-Torteya et al, 2009). Parmi ces facteurs, le cumul des violences constitue un aspect essentiel à examiner.…”

Take These Broken Wings and Learn to Fly: Applying Resilience Concepts to Practice with Children and Youth Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence

“…Maternal sensitivity and parental warmth have been associated with higher levels of resilience, especially in warding off externalizing and internalizing problems (GrahamBermann et al, 2009;Manning, Davies, & Cicchetti, 2014). Further, maternal mental health, positive parenting skills, maternal attunement, and lower levels of maternal trauma have been related to increased resilience in IPV-exposed children (Bogat, DeJonghe, Levendosky, Davidson, & von Eye, 2006;Graham-Bermann et al, 2009;Laing et al, 2013;Martinez-Torteya et al, 2009). Not surprisingly, secure attachment with caregivers has also been associated with resilience in IPV-exposed children.…”

“…This was a significant issue to be addressed in their relationship. Research shows that a relationship with a safe adult, especially a parent, combined with secure attachment, fosters resilience in the face or aftermath of adversity (Anderson & Bang, 2006;Carpenter & Stacks, 2009;Graham-Bermann et al, 2009;Herman-Smith, 2013;Manning et al, 2014;Martinez-Torteya et al, 2009).…”

“…Individual characteristics cited include self-confidence, greater self-worth, emotion regulation, connection to spirituality, commitment to breaking the cycle of violence, motivation/goal orientation, academic success, internal locus of control, and an easy temperament (Gonzales et al, 2012;Howell & Miller-Graff, 2014;Martinez-Torteya, Anne Bogat, Von Eye, & Levendosky, 2009;Suzuki et al, 2008).…”

Knowledge Translation Plan to Diffuse, Disseminate and Apply Evidence on Children Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence

“…Several studies using a person-centered approach have identified different profiles of adjustment among children and adolescents exposed to IPV, showing that between 15% and 60% of these population present profiles of resilience in absence of adjustment problems [33][34][35][36][37][38][39]. Across studies, the most significant and consistent factors discriminating between profiles of resilience and psychopathology in children exposed to IPV are maternal mental health, the quality of the mother-child relationship, and maternal parenting skills, together with socioeconomic status (SES) and maternal level of education [32,33,[40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48].…”