Crisis intervention type services were initiated in the Battered Women's Shelter in Fayetteville, Arkansas with the purpose of assisting children with their immediate distress and possibly preventing repetition of the violent patterns within families. Services were provided by volunteers or hired staff as funding allowed. The families the shelter…

Interviewed 27 battered women about violence and abuse to their children by themselves and the men involved. Reinterviewed 21 women six months later. Longitudinal comparisons indicated that the total group of children was abused less after the women's stay at a shelter. Most reductions resulted from women no longer living with abusive men.…

Preschool children (N=26) who accompanied their mothers to a battered women's shelter were found to have elevated rates of behavior problems and social competence difficulties. White males appeared more impaired than any other gender/ethnic combination. Abused children and non-abused children who witnessed family violence were compared.…

This report defines domestic violence as a method of maintaining control through the use of force. An historical perspective is presented which describes the many centuries during which men legally wielded absolute power over their wives and children, who were considered to be chattel of the husband. Different hypotheses suggest various causal…

A number of studies have found evidence suggesting that being a witness to violence puts a child at risk of developing social and psychological problems. However, most of these studies used populations of severely battered women and did not control for confounding with other family characteristics. This study analyzed male and female responses…

Provides an overview of current knowledge in the areas of child abuse, wife battering, and elder abuse. Points out the need to go beyond individual explanations of the problem and look to the family and larger social values and institutions for a broader perspective. (Author/JOW)

This commentary identifies critical issues regarding social interventions with families in which both child maltreatment and woman battering are suspected. Addresses several common assumptions of service providers and suggests changes in current practice. (Author)

Human Options is a non-profit social service agency in Orange County, California which provides services for battered women and their families. This study: assessed the outcomes for graduates of its programs; obtained consumer evaluations of the agency's services; measured the needs for aftercare services; and assessed how the children of program…

Recent research suggests that social workers who deal with family violence are often unaware of the coexistence of both spouse abuse and child abuse within families. Implications of this research for the professional practice of service providers who deal with domestic violence and for child welfare professionals are outlined. (MDM)

Describes past perceptions of battered women's protection of their children. Examines the role of the child protection service worker in cases where an abused mother does not leave or returns to a household with an abusive male. Discusses the differences in the roles of child protection service professional and domestic violence professionals.…

Examination of the records of 37 school-age children whose mothers sought help from a battered women's shelter found that, although the symptoms of those who had witnessed their mothers' battering differed somewhat from those of the children who had been abused, the significant similarities warrant a redefinition of spousal abuse as a form of…

Compares the rate of physical abuse of children and spouses from a 1975 study with rates from a 1985 replication. The 1985 rates were substantially lower than in 1975. Possible reasons for the lower rates are examined and evaluated. (Author/ABB)

Assessed role of child gender in moderating association between husbands' aggression toward wives and parental aggression toward children with 73 mothers. Found that, in families characterized by husbands' marital aggression, boys and girls experienced similar parental aggression; however, more frequent and severe levels of husbands' marital…

This report discusses the Child Abuse, Domestic Violence, Adoption and Family Services Act of 1991. Section I provides background information on child abuse, family violence, and adoption opportunities, and addresses the need for reauthorization legislation. Section II provides a list of witnesses from relevant hearings, and briefly describes the…

Family violence is a widespread problem; research has shown multiple factors are associated with family violence. Types of family violence include spouse abuse; elder abuse and neglect; child abuse and neglect; parent abuse; and sibling abuse. There are three types of spouse abuse: physical abuse, sexual violence, and psychological/emotional…