title: Modeling the intergenerational impact of partner abuse on maternal and child function at 24 months post outreach: Implications for practice and policy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Many women are exposed to partner violence during their lifetime which affects mental health and child development. This study revalidates an intergenerational model connecting partner violence to poor functioning for mothers and children using structural equation techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  A longitudinal design collected data on 300 mother-child pairs. Comparisons between the model, tested at study entry and again at 24 months, are reported. Maternal measures included childhood experiences of abuse, partner abuse, chronic pain, and mental health. The Child Behavior Checklist measured child function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparison of both models revealed that maternal chronic pain, maternal mental health, and child witnessing of mother's abuse remain strong predictors of child dysfunction. Maternal social support and self-efficacy are significant predictors of more positive maternal mental health with a conduit effect on child behavior.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intimate partner violence directly impacts the victim and also has a secondary impact on the children of abuse victims.
authors.affiliation: Nelda C. Stark College of Nursing, Texas Woman's University, Houston, TX. Electronic address: nfredland@twu.edu.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fredland
authors.affiliation: Nelda C. Stark College of Nursing, Texas Woman's University, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McFarlane
authors.affiliation: Nelda C. Stark College of Nursing, Texas Woman's University, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Lene
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Symes
authors.affiliation: Nelda C. Stark College of Nursing, Texas Woman's University, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maddoux
authors.affiliation: Nelda C. Stark College of Nursing, Texas Woman's University, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Jacquelyn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pennings
authors.affiliation: Nelda C. Stark College of Nursing, Texas Woman's University, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Rene
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paulson
authors.affiliation: Nelda C. Stark College of Nursing, Texas Woman's University, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Binder
authors.affiliation: Nelda C. Stark College of Nursing, Texas Woman's University, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gilroy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000069586:Adult Survivors of Child Adverse Events; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D000069581:Exposure to Violence; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000066511:Intimate Partner Violence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support; D015206:Southwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Child behavior; Child exposure to violence; Chronic pain; Health outcomes; Intimate partner violence; Maternal mental health; Nursing roles in violence prevention; Structural equation modeling