THE EFFECTS OF SYSTEMIC FAMILY VIOLENCE ON CHILDRENS MENTAL-HEALTH

This study examines the link between different forms of family aggress ion and children's symptoms of psychopathology. The goal of the study was to understand what forms children's problems might take in violent homes and whether close ties within the family (to the mother or a si bling) buffered children. Interviews with 365 mothers and 1 of their c hildren between the ages of 6 and 12 about abuse in the home, support and closeness within the nuclear family, and mother's and children's m ental health formed the basis of this study. Families were recruited f rom battered women's shelters and the community. We found that differe nt forms of abuse in the home were highly interrelated and that childr en of battered women were at risk for child abuse. Domestic violence p redicted children's general psychopathology, but we uncovered little e vidence for the presence of specific sorts of disorders as a result of family dysfunction. Although mothers experiencing conjugal violence w ere more likely to have mental health problems, their mental health di d not mediate the children's response to family conflict. Finally, the re was less sibling and parental warmth in families marked by aggressi on, although when it was present, family social support failed to buff er children. Although the general pattern of results was consistent ac ross respondents (mother and child), there was low agreement on sympto ms of child psychopathology.