Article Summary
Spilsbury, J.C., Belliston, L., Drotar, D., Drinkard, A., et al. August 2007.
Clinically significant trauma symptoms and behavioral problems in a community-based sample of children exposed to domestic violence. Journal of Family Violence 22(6):487–499
The authors describe a study conducted to identify associations of characteristics of domestic violence incidents with different levels of traumatic symptoms and behavioral problems in socioeconomically and ethnically mixed children participating in a community service program for children witnessing violence. The study focuses on the different levels of involvement of the children in the situation, such as directly observing the incident, hearing (but not seeing) the incident, observing the immediate effects of the incident (but not the assault itself), or being told (or overhearing conversations) about the incident. Researchers also studied the relationship between the amount of involvement and the type of child and family demographic characteristics, the type and length of exposure, and the child’s perceptions of control over the event and the threat to personal safety. The outcomes of the study show different types of behavioral and posttraumatic stress as a result of economic and racial differences and the level of domestic violence exposure. In conclusion, the authors suggest that researchers should continue to identify the means through which children are exposed to violence. Additionally, it is stressed that we must study how exposure to and experiencing of violence can affect children differently.
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