The Moderating Effects of Parenting Stress on Children's Adjustment in Woman-Abusing Families

Abstract

Research on the psychological effects of domestic violence on women and children has flourished in the past few years, concluding that both suffer increased adjustment problems and psychopathology. The current studies, however, have not provided an understanding of the processes or factors that can protect children from being detrimentally affected. The purpose of this study was to examine the potential moderating effects of maternal parenting stress on children's adjustment in homes with varying levels of domestic violence. The sample consisted of 60 sheltered battered women and their 7- to 12-year-old children, and 61 nonsheltered women and children from the same community. Results indicated that children's adjustment was significantly predicted by parenting stress after controlling for psychological and physical abuse of the mother. Results are discussed in light of protective and vulnerability factors for children's adjustment in high-risk families.