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Outcomes of psychotherapeutic and psychoeducative group interventions for children exposed to intimate partner violence

Pernebo, Karin ; Fridell, Mats LU and Almqvist, Kjerstin (2018) In Child Abuse and Neglect 79. p.213-223
Abstract

Witnessing violence toward a caregiver during childhood is associated with negative impact on children's health and development, and there is a need for effective interventions for children exposed to intimate partner violence in clinical as well as in community settings. The current effectiveness study investigated symptom reduction after participation in two established group interventions (one community-based psychoeducative intervention; one psychotherapeutic treatment intervention) for children exposed to intimate partner violence and for their non-offending parent. The study included 50 children—24 girls and 26 boys—aged 4–13 years and their mothers. Child and maternal mental health problems and trauma symptoms were assessed pre-... (More)

Witnessing violence toward a caregiver during childhood is associated with negative impact on children's health and development, and there is a need for effective interventions for children exposed to intimate partner violence in clinical as well as in community settings. The current effectiveness study investigated symptom reduction after participation in two established group interventions (one community-based psychoeducative intervention; one psychotherapeutic treatment intervention) for children exposed to intimate partner violence and for their non-offending parent. The study included 50 children—24 girls and 26 boys—aged 4–13 years and their mothers. Child and maternal mental health problems and trauma symptoms were assessed pre- and post-treatment. The results indicate that although children showed benefits from both interventions, symptom reduction was larger in the psychotherapeutic intervention, and children with initially high levels of trauma symptoms benefited the most. Despite these improvements, a majority of the children's mothers still reported child trauma symptoms at clinical levels post-treatment. Both interventions substantially reduced maternal post-traumatic stress. The results indicate a need for routine follow-up of children's symptoms after interventions.

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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Child witness of intimate partner violence, Children, Domestic violence, IPV, Outcome research, Post traumatic stress, Treatment
in
Child Abuse and Neglect
volume
79
pages
11 pages
publisher
Pergamon Press Ltd.
external identifiers
  • pmid:29482108
  • scopus:85042369490
ISSN
0145-2134
DOI
10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.02.014
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ec2eefff-648b-47c2-923c-e940b1768fa2
date added to LUP
2018-03-09 13:06:41
date last changed
2024-04-15 03:35:01
@article{ec2eefff-648b-47c2-923c-e940b1768fa2,
  abstract     = {{<p>Witnessing violence toward a caregiver during childhood is associated with negative impact on children's health and development, and there is a need for effective interventions for children exposed to intimate partner violence in clinical as well as in community settings. The current effectiveness study investigated symptom reduction after participation in two established group interventions (one community-based psychoeducative intervention; one psychotherapeutic treatment intervention) for children exposed to intimate partner violence and for their non-offending parent. The study included 50 children—24 girls and 26 boys—aged 4–13 years and their mothers. Child and maternal mental health problems and trauma symptoms were assessed pre- and post-treatment. The results indicate that although children showed benefits from both interventions, symptom reduction was larger in the psychotherapeutic intervention, and children with initially high levels of trauma symptoms benefited the most. Despite these improvements, a majority of the children's mothers still reported child trauma symptoms at clinical levels post-treatment. Both interventions substantially reduced maternal post-traumatic stress. The results indicate a need for routine follow-up of children's symptoms after interventions.</p>}},
  author       = {{Pernebo, Karin and Fridell, Mats and Almqvist, Kjerstin}},
  issn         = {{0145-2134}},
  keywords     = {{Child witness of intimate partner violence; Children; Domestic violence; IPV; Outcome research; Post traumatic stress; Treatment}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{05}},
  pages        = {{213--223}},
  publisher    = {{Pergamon Press Ltd.}},
  series       = {{Child Abuse and Neglect}},
  title        = {{Outcomes of psychotherapeutic and psychoeducative group interventions for children exposed to intimate partner violence}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.02.014}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.02.014}},
  volume       = {{79}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}