Resilience among children exposed to domestic violence: The role of risk and protective factors

Cecilia Martinez-Torteya, G. Anne Bogat, Alexander Von Eye, Alytia A. Levendosky

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

227 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Individual and family characteristics that predict resilience among children exposed to domestic violence (DV) were examined. Mother-child dyads (n = 190) were assessed when the children were 2, 3, and 4 years of age. DV-exposed children were 3.7 times more likely than nonexposed children to develop internalizing or externalizing problems. However, 54% of DV-exposed children maintained positive adaptation and were characterized by easy temperament (odds ratio [OR] =.39, d =.52) and nondepressed mothers (OR = 1.14, d =.07), as compared to their nonresilient counterparts. Chronic DV was associated with maternal depression, difficult child temperament, and internalizing or externalizing symptoms. Results underscore heterogeneous outcomes among DV-exposed children and the influence of individual and family characteristics on children's adaptation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)562-577
Number of pages16
JournalChild Development
Volume80
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2009
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Copyright:
Copyright 2012 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Education
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology

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