Trajectories of traumatic stress reactions in children exposed to intimate partner violence |
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| Institution: | 1. Utrecht University, PO Box 80125, 3508 TC, Utrecht, the Netherlands;2. Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS, Utrecht, the Netherlands;3. Verwey-Jonker Institute, Kromme Nieuwegracht 6, 3512 HG, Utrecht, the Netherlands;4. Kromme Nieuwegracht 6, 3512 HG, Utrecht, the Netherlands;5. Erasmus University, PO Box 1738, 3000 DR, Rotterdam, the Netherlands |
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| Abstract: | BackgroundUnderstanding different longitudinal patterns of traumatic stress reactions in children exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) can promote early identification of at-risk children.ObjectiveOur study aims to explore trajectories of traumatic stress reactions following childhood IPV exposure, and their relation with parental traumatic stress and child emotional security in the interparental subsystem.Participants and SettingThe sample comprised 303 children (age 3–10, M = 6.20) from families referred to institutions for IPV. Data were collected at home.MethodsThree waves of parent-reported questionnaire data were analyzed using latent class growth analysis and linear regression.ResultsFive trajectories were identified: ‘resilient’, ‘moderate stable’, ‘struggling’, ‘improving’, and ‘elevated adjusting’. Only the ‘struggling’ trajectory had dysfunctional symptom levels at the final wave. Higher parental traumatic stress predicted ‘improving’ trajectory membership (β = 0.17, p = .033), whereas lower parental traumatic stress (β = −0.20, p = .003) and child emotional insecurity (β = −0.45, p = < .001) predicted ‘resilient’ trajectory membership. Higher child emotional insecurity predicted membership in trajectories with higher initial traumatic stress (improving: β = 0.26, p < .001; struggling: β = 0.31, p < .001; elevated adjusting: β = 0.27, p < .001). Child emotional security did not buffer the effect of parental traumatic stress on likelihood of dysfunctional trajectory membership (β = 0.04, p =.380).ConclusionsChildren exposed to IPV show different trajectories of traumatic stress reactions, partly corresponding to trajectories identified in other populations. Child emotional security and parental traumatic stress predict trajectory membership. |
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| Keywords: | Intimate partner violence Traumatic stress trajectories Child emotional security |
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