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?