Abstract
Background: Intimate partner violence has long-term and negative effects on the health of mothers and children worldwide. This study aimed to identify the mental and behavioral effects of past exposure to intimate partner violence among children and examine their associations with the children’s visits with their fathers who perpetrated the intimate partner violence. Methods: A cross-sectional study of women who had been abused by their intimate partners and had one or more children aged 4 - 18 years old was conducted from March 2015 to December 2016. Questionnaires were used to collect (1) demographic data about the mothers and children, (2) information about the children’s visits with the mother’s former partner (i.e., father), and (3) psychological data using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Child Behavior Checklist/4 - 18. Results: The average scores and rates of internalizing, externalizing, and total problems among the children who had been exposed to intimate partner violence were: 10.8 (SD = 10.4), 26 (51.0%); 9.0 (SD = 9.0), 14 (27.5%); and 26.3 (SD = 21.5), 15 (29.4%), respectively. Children’s visits with fathers who were IPV perpetrators were significantly associated with the internalizing (AOR = 12.6, β = 0.56; p β = 0.48; p < 0.05). Conclusion: Attention should focus on traumatized children exposed to intimate partner violence, and thorough and cautious assessments and decisions regarding visits with their fathers who are IPV perpetrators are essential to safeguard and improve their mental and behavioral health.
Highlights
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious health concern, which includes psychological, physical, and controlling behaviors, as well as sexual violence [1]
The little information is available about the psychological mental and behavioral health of children who have been exposed to IPV due to the limited number of research studies of this problem
This study reported findings about the mental and behavioral health of a sample of children who had been exposed to IPV in the past
Summary
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious health concern, which includes psychological (e.g., constant intimidation, belittling, and humiliation), physical (e.g., slapping, beating, and kicking), and controlling behaviors (e.g., isolating a person from family and friends, and restricting access to financial and social resources), as well as sexual violence (e.g., forced sexual intercourse) [1]. Children who have been exposed to IPV may have psychological challenges for a long time after they have been separated from the perpetrator of the violence, who is often an abusive father. This study aimed to identify the mental and behavioral effects of past exposure to intimate partner violence among children and examine their associations with the children’s visits with their fathers who perpetrated the intimate partner violence. Results: The average scores and rates of internalizing, externalizing, and total problems among the children who had been exposed to intimate partner violence were: 10.8 (SD = 10.4), 26 (51.0%); 9.0 (SD = 9.0), (27.5%); and 26.3 (SD = 21.5), (29.4%), respectively. Conclusion: Attention should focus on traumatized children exposed to intimate partner violence, and thorough and cautious assessments and decisions regarding visits with their fathers who are IPV perpetrators are essential to safeguard and improve their mental and behavioral health
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