title: Problem-solving and mental health outcomes of women and children in the wake of intimate partner violence.
abstract: The environmental stress of intimate partner violence is common and often results in mental health problems of depression, anxiety, and PTSD for women and behavioral dysfunctions for their children. Problem-solving skills can serve to mitigate or accentuate the environmental stress of violence and associated impact on mental health. To better understand the relationship between problem-solving skills and mental health of abused women with children, a cross-sectional predictive analysis of 285 abused women who used justice or shelter services was completed. The women were asked about social problem-solving, and mental health symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD as well as behavioral functioning of their children. Higher negative problem-solving scores were associated with significantly (P < 0.001) greater odds of having clinically significant levels of PTSD, anxiety, depression, and somatization for the woman and significantly (P < 0.001) greater odds of her child having borderline or clinically significant levels of both internalizing and externalizing behaviors. A predominately negative problem-solving approach was strongly associated with poorer outcomes for both mothers and children in the aftermath of the environmental stress of abuse. Interventions addressing problem-solving ability may be beneficial in increasing abused women's abilities to navigate the daily stressors of life following abuse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Research, Texas Woman's University, 304 Administration Drive, P.O. Box 425589, Denton, TX 76204, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5373-7020
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maddoux
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Texas Woman's University, 304 Administration Drive, P.O. Box 425589, Denton, TX 76204, USA.
authors.forename: Lene
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5622-0497
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Symes
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Texas Woman's University, 304 Administration Drive, P.O. Box 425589, Denton, TX 76204, USA.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McFarlane
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Texas Woman's University, 304 Administration Drive, P.O. Box 425589, Denton, TX 76204, USA.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koci
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Texas Woman's University, 304 Administration Drive, P.O. Box 425589, Denton, TX 76204, USA.
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5079-0851
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gilroy
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Texas Woman's University, 304 Administration Drive, P.O. Box 425589, Denton, TX 76204, USA.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4931-7474
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fredland
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018585:Battered Women; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011340:Problem Solving; D015206:Southwestern United States; D013179:Spouse Abuse; D055815:Young Adult