Longitudinal Treatment Effectiveness Outcomes of a Group Intervention for Women and Children Exposed to Domestic Violence

Abstract

Social support can moderate negative effects of domestic violence for exposed women and children. Also, interventions targeting exposed women and children simultaneously have been shown to be more effective than those focused on children only. Since group interventions can provide such support, our study examined the effectiveness of a 10-week community-based psycho-educational group intervention for women and children. Mothers' (n = 36) and children's outcomes (n = 20) were assessed preintervention and 3- and 6-months postintervention. High attrition limited significant findings but maternal outcomes were in the expected direction. Methodological implications and barriers to intervention research are discussed.

Keywords:

• treatment effectiveness
• domestic violence
• longitudinal study
• children
• battered women