Partner Abuse of Mothers Compromises Children's Behavioral Functioning Through Maternal Mental Health Dysfunction: Analysis of 300 Mother-Child Pairs.

Partner violence is associated with numerous negative consequences for victims, especially poor mental health. Children who are exposed to partner violence are more likely to have behavior problems. Nevertheless, research on the relationship between severity of abuse, maternal mental health functioning following partner violence, and child behavior problems is limited. We explored the direct and indirect effects on the child's behavioral functioning of severity of maternal abuse and maternal mental health functioning following abuse. A sample of 300 mothers was recruited when they sought assistance for abuse for the first time at shelters for abused women or at the district attorney's office. Severity of abuse, mothers' mental health functioning, and child behavioral functioning were measured by maternal self-report at entry into the study and 4 months later. In SEM analysis, at both entry and 4 months, severity of abuse had a direct effect on maternal mental health functioning, which in turn had a direct effect on child behavioral functioning. The path from severity of abuse to child behavioral functioning also was significant but became non- significant once maternal mental health functioning was added to the equation, indicating that the path from severity of abuse to child behavioral functioning was indirect and occurred as a result of the mother's mental health functioning, which remained directly linked to child behavioral problems. Intergenerational interventions are needed to address both maternal mental health and child behavioral functioning when a mother reports partner violence and is experiencing mental health problems.

Maternal-child dyads of functioning: the intergenerational impact of violence against women on children.

Violence against women is a global epidemic with potential consequences of injury, illness, and death. Children exposed to the violence may also be impacted with functional impairments. Little is known of the inter-generational impact of violence experienced by the mother from an intimate partner on functioning of her children. No dyad analysis was found in the literature. To examine the inter-generational impact of violence against women on the behavioral functioning of children, 300 mothers reporting intimate partner abuse and one randomly chosen child, age 18 months to 16 years of age; were evaluated for borderline and clinical diagnostic levels of problem behaviors. Linear, Logistic, and Ordinal regression models were applied. Mothers' problem behavior scores were significantly related to children's problem behavior scores (internalizing r = 0.611, externalizing r = 0.494, total problems r = 0.662, all ps < 0.001). Mothers who reported clinical and borderline clinical internalized problems (i.e., depression, anxiety) were 7 times more likely to have children with the same problems and mothers with borderline clinical and clinical external problems (i.e., aggression, hostility) were 4.5 times more likely to have children with the same external problems. These dyadic analyses provide evidence of a direct relationship of maternal functioning on child behavioral functioning. Intervention strategies to decrease internalizing maternal behavioral problems, such as depression, anxiety, and post traumatic stress disorder, and/or externalizing problems, such as hostility and aggression, can be expected to have a pass through, secondary impact on the behavioral functioning of children. Awareness of the relationship between intimate partner violence against mothers and child behavioral function can support interventions that decrease the distress experienced by mothers and their children, interrupt intergenerational transmission of abusive behaviors, and promote better maternal child functioning.

Community-dwelling, older women's perspectives on Therapeutic Life Review: a qualitative analysis.

The purpose of this study was to elicit the participants' perspective of a Therapeutic Life Review intervention program delivered by a home care worker. Following the intervention by the home care worker, 13 of the 14 older women receiving home care services were interviewed to examine their experiences. Qualitative data analysis revealed five themes: (1) Someone was there to listen to my story, (2) It was a special time, (3) A valued interaction with the home care worker developed, (4) Remembering was meaningful and pleasurable, and (5) Integration with one's lived experiences was healing. Three case scenarios illustrate the lives of these older women.

The simulated hospital environment: a qualitative study applying space industry techniques.

Patterned after the integrated simulation approach utilized in the space industry, we report results of an innovative simulation in nursing, a 96-hour continuous simulated hospital environment. Training objectives for our study emphasized the integrative and critical thinking skills needed by new graduate nurses. The purpose of this study was to determine the process for development and the experience of participating in a simulated hospital environment. We sought to (a) translate space industry-integrated simulation techniques into development of a simulated hospital environment and (b) determine the experience of participating in an integrated simulation experience among undergraduate (UG) and graduate nursing students and nursing faculty. We used a qualitative mixed-methods design. Data were collected from participant focus groups, debriefing sessions, research team field notes, and electronic health record documentation. The sample, 72 student focus group participants, consisted of 12 baccalaureate-level soon-to-graduate students and 60 graduate nurse practitioner students as patient actors and providers. Important themes emerged from the project. We were able to design a simulated hospital environment that was true to life. Notably, student knowledge-practice gap was a major theme of the study, consistent with studies of employer concerns of new graduate nurses.

Behavioral functioning of children of abused women who seek services from shelters or the justice system: new knowledge for clinical practice.

Millions of women worldwide are victims of partner violence annually and their children are at-risk for psychological and physical dysfunctions. A total of 300 children (ages 18 months to 16 years), whose abused mothers sought safe shelter or a protection order for the first time, were studied. Data revealed internalizing behaviors, such as depression and externalizing behaviors, such as bullying decreased 4 months after mothers obtained help. Children's scores from the shelter group indicated more dysfunction. Although no direct program was offered to the children studied, routine child care presents opportunities for nurses in pediatric settings to assess mothers for abuse and intervene with guided referrals and safety information that may promote better child functioning.