Investigating the Presentation, Trajectory, and Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Children Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence

Abstract

Childhood exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) is serious public health issue associated with a host of negative outcomes, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Research on early-life violence exposure has found that it confers risk for further exposure to violence and poor mental health later in life; however, there is a lack of prospective research in this area. Further, there is little information on how treatment impacts mental health over the long-term, despite the chronic nature of IPV exposure. This dissertation has three specific aims: (1) to examine profiles of traumatic stress symptoms in children and women exposed to IPV, (2) to evaluate how mothers' and children's PTSD symptoms relate, and (3) investigate trajectories of PTSD in IPV-exposed children as well as assess if intervention has a positive impact on children's PTSD symptoms over an eight-year period. Two-hundred ten children (ages 4-12), and their mothers were interviewed as part of this study. Approximately sixty families completed an eight-year follow-up interview to an intervention trial. Results demonstrated age-related differences in profiles of PTSD symptoms, as well as significant functional impairment of symptoms. Further, mothers' and children's symptoms of PTSD were significantly related in both younger and older children, suggesting it may be important to intervene with maternal mental health to have a significant impact on child functioning. Finally, this research demonstrated that children's traumatic stress symptoms worsen over time, regardless of treatment participation, and that this was related, in part, to their continued IPV exposure. Altogether, these results suggest more support is needed for children exposed to early-life IPV to promote their health long-term functioning.