shelters and the violence. Questions their children witnessed shelter population limits precipitated violent nonresidential services pertaining to their the violence or its generalizability. acts. for women). children were also asked, aftereffects, and 55% including: whether the reported that their No discussion of what Indicates the many child witnessed the children were direct constituted physical or ways in which children violence, what the child witnesses. emotional abuse for are either part of violent said or did at that time or inclusion in the study. incidents or are later, and whether the Children played an Type, severity, and catalysts for women’s former partner was important role in frequency of violence eventual exit from the violent towards the mothers’ decision to stay and exposure were not relationship. children. Mothers were or leave. 1/3 stayed in reported. also asked about their the relationship for the beliefs regarding children; 55% left out of intergenerational concern for their transmission of violence children. 45% of and the role that her mothers were concerned children played in her about intergenerational decision to leave and transmission of violence, since leaving. and many were taking active steps to prevent it. Holden & Ritchie 37 battered mothers Four methods were used Significant differences Different locations for Used a variety of (1991) recruited from a DV over the course of two between the fathers of completing the study methods to test shelter and 37 sessions: an interview, the two groups. (for the battered mothers hypotheses. Although comparison mothers three questionnaires, a Specifically, abusive vs. comparison mothers) there are some recruited from mother-child fathers were more could contribute to methodological community observation, and irritable and less different results. problems, the use of a advertisements as well as computer-presented involved. Levels of comparison group helps their children aged social situations which stress and inconsistency Does not differentiate to determine parenting old. utilized contextualized in parenting were the among types of DV. differences between vignettes. Instruments only two significant abused and nonabused included Conflict Tactics differences between the mothers. Scales, Child Behavior groups of mothers. Checklist, and the Temperament Children from violent Assessment Battery for homes had poorer Children. outcomes than comparison children. The observation entailed a structured play Maternal stress and task in which visual and paternal irritability were
shelters and nonresidential services for women). the violence. Questions pertaining to their children were also asked, including: whether the child witnessed the violence, what the child said or did at that time or later, and whether the former partner was violent towards the children. Mothers were also asked about their beliefs regarding intergenerational transmission of violence and the role that her children played in her decision to leave and since leaving. their children witnessed the violence or its aftereffects, and 55% reported that their children were direct witnesses. Children played an important role in mothers’ decision to stay or leave. 1/3 stayed in the relationship for the children; 55% left out of concern for their children. 45% of mothers were concerned about intergenerational transmission of violence, and many were taking active steps to prevent it. shelter population limits generalizability. No discussion of what constituted physical or emotional abuse for inclusion in the study. Type, severity, and frequency of violence and exposure were not reported. precipitated violent acts. Indicates the many ways in which children are either part of violent incidents or are catalysts for women’s eventual exit from the relationship. Holden & Ritchie (1991) 37 battered mothers recruited from a DV shelter and 37 comparison mothers recruited from community advertisements as well as their children aged old. Four methods were used over the course of two sessions: an interview, three questionnaires, a mother-child observation, and computer-presented social situations which utilized contextualized vignettes. Instruments included Conflict Tactics Scales, Child Behavior Checklist, and the Temperament Assessment Battery for Children. The observation entailed a structured play task in which visual and Significant differences between the fathers of the two groups. Specifically, abusive fathers were more irritable and less involved. Levels of stress and inconsistency in parenting were the only two significant differences between the groups of mothers. Children from violent homes had poorer outcomes than comparison children. Maternal stress and paternal irritability were Different locations for completing the study (for the battered mothers vs. comparison mothers) could contribute to different results. Does not differentiate among types of DV. Used a variety of methods to test hypotheses. Although there are some methodological problems, the use of a comparison group helps to determine parenting differences between abused and nonabused mothers.