Abstract
The present study evaluated a time-limited group treatment program developed by Jaffe et al.(1986) for child witnesses of wife abuse. The sample of children between the ages of 8–13 years, in both the treatment and control groups, was referred by agencies in the community. The evaluation based on the Child Witness to Violence Questionnaire, measured three variables: attitudes and responses to anger, knowledge of support and safety skills, and sense of responsibility for the parents and for the violence. An analysis of covariance of the pretreatment/posttreatment data showed significant differences on the first and third variables: attitudes and responses to anger, and sense of responsibility for the parents and violence measured. The second variable, safety and support skills, showed no significant difference between groups. Consideration was given to additional findings, limitations of the study, and recommendations for program change.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Achenbach, T. M., and Edelbrock, C. S. (1983). Manual for the child behavior checklist and revised child behavior profile. University of Vermont, Department of Psychiatry, Burlington, VT.
Bellack, A. S., and Hersen, M. (1984).Research Methods in Clinical Psychology, Pergamon Press, New York.
Campbell, D., and Stanley, J. (1963).Experimental Designs and Quasi-Experimental Designs for Research, Rand McNally, Chicago.
Carlson, B. E. (1984). Children's observations of interparental violence. In Roy, M. (ed.),Battered Women: A Psychosocialogical Study of Domestic Violence, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York.
Davis, L., and Carlson, B. (1987). Observation of spouse abuse—What happens to the children?J. Interpers. Viol. 2(3): 279–291.
Elbow, M. (1982). Children of violent marriages: The forgotten victims.Social Casework J. Contemp. Social Work 63(8): 465–471.
Emery, R. (1989). Family violence.Am. Psychologist 44(2): 321–328.
Emery, R. E. (1982). Interparental conflict and the children of discord and divorce.Psychological Bull. 92(2): 310–330.
Fike, D. F. (1980). Evaluating group intervention.Social Work Groups 3(2): 41–51.
Fitz-Gibbon, C. T., and Morris, L. L. (1990).How to Design a Program Evaluation (fifth edition), Sage, Newbury Park.
Gentry, C., and Eaddy, V. B. (1982). Treatment of children in spouse abusive families.Victimol. Internat. J. 5(2–4): 240–250.
Grusznski, R., Brink, J., and Edleson, J. (1988). Support and education groups for children of battered women.Child Welf. 67(5): 431–444.
Hughes, H. M. (1988). Psychological and behavioral correlates of family violence in child witnesses and victims.Am. J. Orthopsychiatry 58(1): 77–90.
Jaffe, P. G., Wolfe, D. A., and Wilson, S. K. (1985–1987). Assessment and intervention strategies for children exposed to wife battering, Ministry of Community and Social Services, Family Violence Unit, Ontario.
Jaffe, P., Wilson, S., and Wolfe, D. A. (1986). Promoting changes in attitudes and understanding of conflict resolution among child witnesses of family violence.Canad. J. Behav. Sci. 18(4): 357–366.
Jaffe, P., Wilson, S., and Wolfe, D. A. (1988). Specific assessment and intervention strategies for children exposed to wife battering; Preliminary empirical investigations.Canad. J. Commun. Ment. Health 7(2): 157–163.
Jaffe, P., Wilson, S., and Wolfe, D. (1989). Understanding the impact of wife assault on child witnesses: An integrated approach to training and program development in children's services, Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services.
Jaffe, P., Wolfe, D. A., and Wilson, S. K. (1990).Children of Battered Women, Sage, Newbury Park.
Kerlinger, F. N. (1986).Foundations of Behavioral Research (third edition), Holt, Rinehart & Winston, New York.
Martin, H. (ed.). (1976).The Abused Child: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Development Issues & Treatment, Ballinger, Boston.
Moore, T., Pepler, D., Weinberg, B., Hammond, L., Waddell, J., and Weiser, L. (1990). Research on children from violent families.Canada's Ment. Health June/Sept. 38(2–3): 19–22.
Mulligan, S., Barrs, S., Mitchell, D., Pickering, M. R., Pritchard, J., and Quinn, J. (eds.). (1990).A Handbook for the Prevention of Family Violence, Seldon Printing, Hamilton.
Rose, S. D. (1983). Group counselling with children—A behavioral and cognitive approach. In Gazda, G. M. (ed.),Basic Approaches to Group Psychotherapy and Group Counselling (third edition), Thomas, Springfield, IL.
Straus, M. A. (1979). Measuring intrafamily conflict and violence: The conflict tactics (CT) scales.J. Marr. Fam. 41: 75–88.
Straus, M. A., Gelles, R. J., and Steinmetz, S. K. (1980).Behind Closed Doors: Violence in the American Family, Anchor Books, New York.
Terr, L. (1990).Too Scared to Cry, Basic Books, New York.
Wagar, J. M. (1993). Through the eyes of a child.Focus 7(3): 1–3.
Wolfe, D. (1990). Preventing child abuse means enhancing family functioning.Canad. Ment. Health 38(2/3): 27–29.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wagar, J.M., Rodway, M.R. An evaluation of a group treatment approach for children who have witnessed wife abuse. J Fam Viol 10, 295–306 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02110994
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02110994