Domestic Violence Case Study
Abstract
The purpose of the impending analysis was to examine the presence of posttraumatic stress on child witnesses to domestic violence. The scholarly article found in the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry was investigated to aid in this inquiry. The article hypothesized that children witnessing domestic violence are predisposed to the same level of posttraumatic stress simultaneous to if they were the direct victims of physical abuse or sexual abuse. A sample of 35 children, 20 whom have witnessed domestic violence and 15 who had not, were assessed. The children, whose age ranged from 6-12, were selected from community agencies that provided support for disadvantaged families and abused women. The hypothesis was supported indicating that witnessing domestic violence is a precursor to …show more content…
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in children.
Analysis of Child Witnesses to Domestic Violence and Linkage to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Children who witness domestic violence and its relation to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) were considered as a topic of interest by the researcher. PTSD according to the DSM-IV is an identifiable traumatic event or stressor that is experienced in with extreme fear, terror, and helplessness. The researcher has had previous experience providing outreach to child witnesses to domestic violence and sought to gain further understanding on its impact creating posttraumatic stress in children. The article under investigation, sought to identify how child witnesses to domestic violence are at at-risk of developing PTSD at the same rate as children who have been direct recipients of physical or sexual abuse. The article hypothesized that witnessing domestic violence is a significant contribution to the development of PTSD in child witnesses. According to the article, research suggests that children who are witnesses to domestic violence are prone to develop severe adjustment and behavioral problems. A sample of 35 children, 20 whom have witnessed domestic violence and 15 who had not, were assessed. The children, whose age ranged from 6-12, were selected from community agencies that provided support for disadvantaged families and abused women. The children participants who were selected for the witness group were screened carefully to ensure that there was a presence of domestic violence in the family at some point and that the child had not experienced any other PTSD-inducing stressors such as being a direct recipient of physical abuse, sexual abuse, assault, natural disaster, etc. Children and their mothers who have never been involved in domestic violence situations or other traumatic events were identified and placed in the non witness group. The children were surveyed to determine the number of domestic violence episodes they observed in the past twelve months.
This measure revealed that 15% viewed 1-3 episodes, 15% viewed 4-6 episodes, 25% viewed 7-10 episodes, and 45% viewed more than 10 episodes in the past year. Other tools used to aid in the data collection process consisted of instruments such as the Child Post-Traumatic Stress reaction Index (PTSRI) and the Conflict Tactic Scales (CTS, Form N) were utilized. Both tools were vital in assessing the mother and child to obtain a concise understanding of each child’s exposure to domestic violence. Results from the measures used indicated that that the children either had a presence or absence of a PTSD diagnosis that ranged from mild to severe based upon PTSRI scores. The children in the nonwitness group, along with one child from the witness group, scored below the minimum required of the PTSRI to be considered for a PTSD diagnosis. The results within the witness group warranted a PTSD diagnosis and indicated that two exhibited a mild level of PTSD, while eight exhibited a moderate level, and nine possessed a severe level of PTSD
symptomalogy.
The findings of the impending study revealed that the hypothesis that witness status of domestic violence by children is significantly associated with PTSD was supported. PTSD in child witnesses was deemed to be vivid as evident by severe emotional, mental, and behavioral disturbances of the child witnesses after using the appropriate tools to assess and gather information. The children in the witness group were noted to exhibit more PTSD symptomalogy than nonwitnesses in terms of demonstrating behaviors related to withdrawal, clinginess, hyperactivity, aggression, regression, and inattentiveness and difficulty concentrating.
The researcher of the present analysis viewed the article as enlightening. The researcher was in favor of the hypothesis and findings of the article, but considers it necessary to do further research to determine the effects of domestic violence and levels of PTSD in children of ethnic identifies other than represented in the current study, which had a small sample size that used only individuals of Anglo-Saxon descent. Lastly the researcher was in agreed with the article’s suggestions of effective strategies to treat child witnesses to domestic violence, which included group therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Gestalt-based play therapy.
References
Kilpatrick, M & Williams, L. (1997). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in child witnesses to domestic violence. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 67(4), 639–644.
The purpose of the impending analysis was to examine the presence of posttraumatic stress on child witnesses to domestic violence. The scholarly article found in the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry was investigated to aid in this inquiry. The article hypothesized that children witnessing domestic violence are predisposed to the same level of posttraumatic stress simultaneous to if they were the direct victims of physical abuse or sexual abuse. A sample of 35 children, 20 whom have witnessed domestic violence and 15 who had not, were assessed. The children, whose age ranged from 6-12, were selected from community agencies that provided support for disadvantaged families and abused women. The hypothesis was supported indicating that witnessing domestic violence is a precursor to …show more content…
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in children.
Analysis of Child Witnesses to Domestic Violence and Linkage to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Children who witness domestic violence and its relation to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) were considered as a topic of interest by the researcher. PTSD according to the DSM-IV is an identifiable traumatic event or stressor that is experienced in with extreme fear, terror, and helplessness. The researcher has had previous experience providing outreach to child witnesses to domestic violence and sought to gain further understanding on its impact creating posttraumatic stress in children. The article under investigation, sought to identify how child witnesses to domestic violence are at at-risk of developing PTSD at the same rate as children who have been direct recipients of physical or sexual abuse. The article hypothesized that witnessing domestic violence is a significant contribution to the development of PTSD in child witnesses. According to the article, research suggests that children who are witnesses to domestic violence are prone to develop severe adjustment and behavioral problems. A sample of 35 children, 20 whom have witnessed domestic violence and 15 who had not, were assessed. The children, whose age ranged from 6-12, were selected from community agencies that provided support for disadvantaged families and abused women. The children participants who were selected for the witness group were screened carefully to ensure that there was a presence of domestic violence in the family at some point and that the child had not experienced any other PTSD-inducing stressors such as being a direct recipient of physical abuse, sexual abuse, assault, natural disaster, etc. Children and their mothers who have never been involved in domestic violence situations or other traumatic events were identified and placed in the non witness group. The children were surveyed to determine the number of domestic violence episodes they observed in the past twelve months.
This measure revealed that 15% viewed 1-3 episodes, 15% viewed 4-6 episodes, 25% viewed 7-10 episodes, and 45% viewed more than 10 episodes in the past year. Other tools used to aid in the data collection process consisted of instruments such as the Child Post-Traumatic Stress reaction Index (PTSRI) and the Conflict Tactic Scales (CTS, Form N) were utilized. Both tools were vital in assessing the mother and child to obtain a concise understanding of each child’s exposure to domestic violence. Results from the measures used indicated that that the children either had a presence or absence of a PTSD diagnosis that ranged from mild to severe based upon PTSRI scores. The children in the nonwitness group, along with one child from the witness group, scored below the minimum required of the PTSRI to be considered for a PTSD diagnosis. The results within the witness group warranted a PTSD diagnosis and indicated that two exhibited a mild level of PTSD, while eight exhibited a moderate level, and nine possessed a severe level of PTSD
symptomalogy.
The findings of the impending study revealed that the hypothesis that witness status of domestic violence by children is significantly associated with PTSD was supported. PTSD in child witnesses was deemed to be vivid as evident by severe emotional, mental, and behavioral disturbances of the child witnesses after using the appropriate tools to assess and gather information. The children in the witness group were noted to exhibit more PTSD symptomalogy than nonwitnesses in terms of demonstrating behaviors related to withdrawal, clinginess, hyperactivity, aggression, regression, and inattentiveness and difficulty concentrating.
The researcher of the present analysis viewed the article as enlightening. The researcher was in favor of the hypothesis and findings of the article, but considers it necessary to do further research to determine the effects of domestic violence and levels of PTSD in children of ethnic identifies other than represented in the current study, which had a small sample size that used only individuals of Anglo-Saxon descent. Lastly the researcher was in agreed with the article’s suggestions of effective strategies to treat child witnesses to domestic violence, which included group therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Gestalt-based play therapy.
References
Kilpatrick, M & Williams, L. (1997). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in child witnesses to domestic violence. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 67(4), 639–644.