Parenting in the Context of Domestic Violence: Initial
Findings
Claire Troon, FASS, University of Waikato
Children in Crisis Conference, 2013
Outline:
Overview of literatureBackground to research
Initial findingsImplications
Overview of literature: Impact on children
High correlation between domestic violence against a spouse and child maltreatment (Appel & Holden, 1998; Edleson, 1999)
Behavioural, emotional and cognitive functions of children as well as their belief systems (Jaffe, Hurley & Wolfe, 1990; Bancroft & Silverman, 2002)
Development adversely affected (Margolin & Gordis, 2000)
Overview of literature: Impact on mothers
Mothers are more stressed and significant undermining of their parenting/authority (Holden & Ritchie, 1991, Holden et al., 1998, Levendosky, Lynch & Graham-Bermann, 2000)
Continuation of violence post-separation (Jaffe, Lemon & Poisson, 2002; Scott & Crooks, 2004)
Day-to-day care and contact arrangements may serve as means to further abuse children and women (McMahon & Pence, 1995; Perel & Peled, 2007)
Overview of literature: The batterer as parent
Attitudinal and behavioural characteristics provide grounding for parenting style
Authoritarian parenting practicesUnderinvolvement/irresponsibility Self-centredness (Bancroft et al., 2012; Holden & Ritchie,
1991; Margolin, John, Ghosh, & Gordis, 1996; Peled, 2000).
Maori family violence: Traditional child-rearing practices: shared responsibility,
children are taonga, importance of whakapapa Breakdown of traditions and values due to colonisation Traditional Maori child-care practices have changed
(Balzer et al., 1997; Kruger et al., 2004)
Overview of literature: Recovery in aftermath of violence
Voices of mothers: Separation of the ‘violent world’ and children’s world’ (Peled
and Barak Gil , 2011)
Children ought to have contact with fathers (Tubbs & Williams, 2007; Jaffe & Crook, 2007)
Cannot be ‘good fathers’ unless they change abusive behaviours (Tubbs & Williams, 2007).
Want more attention paid to ‘fathering’ in programmes (Arean & Davis, 2007)
Children’s voices: Ambivalent about their feelings towards their fathers (Groves
el al., 2007; Peled, 2000)
Fathers perceptions: Shame and remorse (Litton Fox, Sayers & Bruce, 2001)
The ‘good father’ image (Perel & Peled, 2008)
Yearn for close and warm relationships with children (Perel & Peled, 2008)
Overview of literature: Facilitating Recovery
Children require a strong bond with non-abusing, nurturing parent (Graham-Bermann & Levendosky, 1998; Jaffe & Geffner, 1998; Margolin & Gordis, 2000)
Mothering interventions: focus on strengths and experiences/ healing mother-child relationship (Levendosky, Lynch & Graham-Bermann, 2000)
Fathering interventions: Stopping violence programmes: opportunity to address
abusive men’s parenting (Scott et al., 2007; Bancroft et al., 2012).
Standard parenting programmes not sufficient : unintended consequences (Bancroft et al., 2012).
Attitudinal and behavioural characteristics to be addressed first (Bancroft et al., 2012; Peled & Perel, 2007; Scott et al., 2007).
Purpose of research:
We need to know more about... Parenting by men who batter: Implications for father-child and mother-child
relationships Batterers’ perceptions of their parenting role Intervention
Research objective: 1. What are the perceptions of women (as victims of
domestic violence) and men (as perpetrators of domestic violence) on the impact of violence on children, and the ability to be a mother and father ?
Background to research: HAIP
The Hamilton Abuse Intervention Project (HAIP) Coordinated community response
Curriculum Pro-feminist model DAIP/ Power and Control Culturally adapted
Men’s programmes Maori and tauiwi 26 weeks
Women’s programmes
Background to research: Methodology
Feminist perspectiveParticipant recruitment
Criteria: Men and women who have children (biological or are the parent/caregiver of children) who resided with one of the parties during the abusive relationship.
Data collection: Semi-structured interviews with men (4 Maori/ 5
tauiwi) Focus groups with women (5 Maori /5 tauiwi)
Thematic analysis
Women’s perceptions: Men’s perceptions:
Exposure to violence
Suppressed emotions
Social learningChild as
protector/parent
FearSocial LearningChild as protectorChildren too young
Initial findings: Impact on children
Women’s perceptions: Men’s perceptions:
Emotional impact Isolation Guilt/ self-blame
Supressed angerControlling parentingMother-child
relationshipBecoming protectorManipulation
FearUsing child as
weaponNo Impact (some
men)
Initial findings: Impact on women/mothers
Women’s perceptions: Men’s perceptions:
Inactive parentAuthoritarianFaçade
Inactive parentAuthoritarianTransgenerational
violenceMotivation to
complete/participate
Initial findings: Impact on batterer’s parenting
Women’s perceptions: Men’s perceptions:
Should have contact Children need fathers Importance of
Whanau/whakapapa Better father now
Shouldn’t have contact Continued abuse
Supervised accessDiminished bondRemorse
Initial findings: The recovery process
Overview: Key findings
Significant effects of DV on children and mothers
Negative parenting practices evidentViolence continues post-separation
(contact arrangements)Emphasis on children’s needs in
healing in aftermath of violenceBecoming a better father- source of
motivation for change
Implications: intervention/policy and practice
Fathers need intervention to become non-violent parents Emphasis on:
Ending violence against children's mother Negative parenting practices
Format/ models? Safety?
Supporting children’s relationships with non-abusive parent paramount
White Paper on Vulnerable children (2012)Cultural considerationsCo-ordinated community response
Questions/reflections?