The impact of conflict and family violence on parenting capacity and child development. Dr Jacqueline Beall Child Dispute Services

Transcription

1 The impact of conflict and family violence on parenting capacity and child development Dr Jacqueline Beall Child Dispute Services

2 Assessing family violence (Kelly & Johnson, 2008; Jaffe et al 2008; Johnston et al 2009; FLCs Family Violence Best Practice Principals 2011) Types of family violence Coercive controlling violence (CCV) based in power and control male perpetrator/female victim Situational couple violence (SCV) based in conflict gender equal Criticisms and concerns (e.g. Wangman, 2011) Dimensions of violence relevant to parenting plans: The P5 screening (Johnston et al 2009)

3 Parenting deficits associated with high conflict and family violence Emotional availability of the parent to the child is likely to be compromised (Kelly, 2012) insecure infant-parent attachment (Weinfield et al, 2008) Victims and perpetrators parenting is often compromised (CCV) (Bancroft et al 2012; Busch & Lieberman, 2007; Hardesty et al 2012) disorganised infant-parent attachment (Zeenah et al, 1999; Turner et al, 2012)

4

5 Outcomes for children There are detrimental effects on children s adjustment and wellbeing with both: high levels of parent conflict during marriage and after separation (Amato, 2000 & 2010) intimate partner violence (Hardesty et al 2012; Holt et al 2008) Violence has an independent effect on children s adjustment and is significantly more potent than high levels of marital conflict (Kelly & Johnson 2008) Children s exposure to CCV as compared to SCV is associated with the most severe and extensive adjustment problems in children (Kelly & Johnson 2008) Younger children more likely to witness family violence and prolonged exposure to have a greater negative impact (Ybarra et al, 2007; Holt et al 2008; Fox & Shonkoff, 2011 )

6 Other allegations -child abuse -alienation High conflict - violence Parents - POP program, counselling Children - group or individual therapy with/without parents Interventions High conflict + violence Parents - anger management programs, POP programs, counselling Children - safety, therapy with/without parents Child Dispute Services Multiple Adversities -mental health -drug & alcohol -parenting Controlling Coercive Violence Perpetrator - focus on power and control Victim parent - support Services, individual therapy Children - safety, traumaattachment based interventions

7 Future needs More research about assessing different types of family violence within the family law sector Greater collaboration between Family Law Courts and therapeutic services Affordable specialised services for families with complex needs

8 References Amato, P. (2010) Research on divorce: Continuing trends and new developments. Journal of Marriage and Family, 49, Bancroft, L., Silverman, J. & Richie, D. (2012) The Batterer as Parent: Addressing the impact of domestic violence on family dynamics, 2nd Ed. Sage, Los Angeles. Braaf, A. (2012) Elephant in the room: Responding to alcohol misuse and domestic violence. Australian Domestic & Family Violence Clearinghouse Issues Paper 24 Bromfield, L., Lamont, A., Parker, R. & Horsfall, B. (2010) Issues for the safety and wellbeing of children in families with multiple and complex problems: The co-occurrence of domestic violence, parental substance misuse, and mental health problems. National Child Protection Clearinghouse Issues No. 33, Australian Institute of Family Studies. Busch, A., & Lieberman, A. F. (2007). Attachment and Trauma: An Integrated Approach to Treating Young Children Exposed to Family Violence. In D. Oppenheim & D. Gold (Eds.), Clinical Applications of Attachment Theory (pp ). New York: Guilford Press. D Andrea, W., Ford, J., Stolbach, B., Spinazzola, J. & van der Kolk, B. (2012) Understanding interpersonal trauma in children: Why we need a developmentally appropriate trauma diagnosis. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry 82(2):

9 Fox, N. & Shonkoff, J. (2011) How persistent fear and anxiety can affect young children s learning, behaviour and health. Early Childhood Matters, Bernard van Leer Foundation Hardesty, J., Haselschwerdt, M. & Johnson, M. (2012) Domestic Violence and Child Custody, Chapter 13, in K. Kuehnle & L. Drozd Eds. Parenting Plan Evaluations: Applied research for the family court, Oxford University Press, New York Holt, S., Buckley, H. & Whelan, S. (2008) The impact of exposure to domestic violence on children and young people: A review of the literature. Child Abuse & Neglect, 32: Jaffe, P., Johnston, J., Crooks, C. & Bala, N. (2008) Custody disputes involving allegations of domestic violence: Toward a differentiated approach to parenting plans. Family Court Review 46(3): Johnston, J., Roseby, V. & Kuehnle, K. (2009) In the name of the child: A developmental approach to understanding and helping children of conflict and violent divorce. 2nd Ed. Springer Publishing Company, New York. Kelly, J. & Johnson, M. (2008) Differentiation among types of intimate partner violence: research update and implications for interventions, Family Court Review, 46(3), Kelly, J. (2012) Risk and protective factors associated with child and adolescent adjustment following separation and divorce. Chapter 3 in K. Kuehnle & L. Drozd Eds. Parenting Plan Evaluations: Applied research for the family court, Oxford University Press, New York

10 Miller, R. (2007) Cumulative harm: a conceptual overview. Best Interests Series, Victorian Government Department of Human Services, Melbourne Victoria. Download from: Tronick, E. 0P0.html Turner, H., Finkelhor, D., Ormrod, R., Hamby, S., Leeb, R., Mercy, J. & Holt, M. (2012) Family context, victimization, and child trauma symptoms: Variations in safe, stable, and nuturing relationships during early and middle childhood. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 82(2): Wangman, J. (2011) Different types of intimate partner violence an exploration of the literature, Australian Domestic Violence & Family Violence Clearinghouse Issues Paper 22. Weinfield, N., Sroufe, A., Egland, B. & Carlson, E. (2008) Individual differences in infant-caregiver attachment. Chapter 4 in Eds J. Cassidy & P. Shaver, Handbook of attachment: theory, research, and clinical applications, Guilford Press. Ybarra, Wilkens, & Lieberman (2007) The influence of domestic violence on preschooler behavior and functioning. Journal of Family Violence, 22: Zeanah CH, Danis B, Hirshberg L, Benoit D, Miller D, Heller SS. Disorganized attachment associated with partner violence:research note. Infant Mental Health Journal 1999;20(1):77-86.