A Diagnosis of Denial: How Mental Health Classification Systems Have Struggled to Recognise Family Violence as a Serious Risk Factor in the Development of Mental Health Issues for Infants, Children, Adolescents and Adults

Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Correlates in Women and Children From Backgrounds of Domestic Violence

Ongoing research has continued to inform our understanding of the effects of living with domestic violence on both women and children. The majority of this research, however, has tended to focus on each population separately, with only a relatively few studies to date assessing the relationship between maternal and child emotional functioning, particularly for symptoms of posttraumatic stress (PTSS). This study was designed to investigate trauma symptomatology in mother-child dyads from backgrounds of domestic violence, where the children are able to self-report on their own symptoms. In addition, the study examined anxiety and depression as important correlates of PTSD in children. Participants were recruited by staff at two metropolitan Domestic Violence Services and interviewed by the first author using standardised PTSD scales and trauma inventories. Results found no significant relationship between trauma symptoms in the mother and those in her child. With respect to children who met the criteria for a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), they were more likely to have higher levels of anxiety and depression when compared to children who did not meet PTSD criteria. Results suggest that the emotional responses of older children may tend to reflect their own experiences rather than being a reflection of maternal distress as seems more likely with younger children. Implications of these findings include the importance of independent assessments of older children, and that older children may profit from early therapeutic interventions in their own right.

Intimate partner violence during infancy and cognitive outcomes in middle childhood: Results from an Australian community-based mother and child cohort study

The cognitive functioning of children who experience intimate partner violence (IPV) has received less attention than their emotional-behavioral outcomes. Drawing upon data from 615 (48.4% female) 10-year-old Australian-born children and their mothers (9.6% of mothers born in non-English speaking countries) participating in a community-based longitudinal study between 2004 and 2016, this study examined the associations between IPV in infancy and cognition in middle childhood (at age 10). Results showed that IPV in the first 12 months of life was associated with lower general cognitive ability and poorer executive attention but not working memory skills. IPV in middle childhood (in the 10th year postpartum) was not associated with cognition. This study provides evidence for the long-term impact of early life exposure to IPV on children's cognition, and points to the importance of early intervention to optimize development.

Psychological Functioning of Adolescents from Violent Families

Objective. The aim of the study was to determine the association of family violence with the functioning of the family system, psychological functioning and development of specific characteristics of the adolescents who grew up in a violent families.

Methods. The study was carried out on a sample of 308 adolescents, aged 15–18, divided in a FV group of adolescents coming from dysfunctional families (n=68) adolescents who grew up inviolent families and were exposed to family violence, which was reported and processed, and a control group (n=240) adolescents from families in which according to the CPRS-R Questionnaire there was not found any form of violence, alcoholism or any other psychosocial pathology. FACES III Scale and Questionnaire for the examination of psychosocial characteristics of the adolescents and family (Revised CPRS-R) were used for measuring dimensions of family functioning, Cybernetic model of personality dimensions (CON-6) for conative functioning of the adolescents, Теst for reasoning images (TRI) for measuring intellectual development and the Scale of Latent Maturity (SLM) for determining the level of psychological maturity. The data were processed by using linear regression analysis.

Results. Family functioning disorders caused by family violence were significantly and highly associated with psychological functioning of the adolescents: concern about family relationships (β =-.968), need for professional help (β =-.873), cooperation with people (β =.523), orientation towards the future (β =.669), latent maturity (β =.618), psychosomatic reactions (β =-.509), dissociative reactions (β =-.591), excused absence from school (β =.618), unexcused absence from school (β =-.824), memory disorders (β =-.541), night fears (β =−722), running away from home (β =-.569), breaking rules and getting punished at school (β =-.569), conflicts with peers (β =−.460). Conative functioning of the adolescents exposed to a violent family environment showed a pathological form of functioning in dissociative, anxiety reactions and social adaptability.

Conclusion. Exposure of adolescents to a violent family environment was associated with changes in psychological functioning, development of specific personality characteristics and risk of developing internalized and externalized symptoms when it came to socialadaptation, anxiety and dissociative reactions. The mediators between family violence and psychological functioning and development of the adolescents was family cohesion and disorders within the marital dyad.

Assessing mental health in vulnerable adolescents

A dramatic shift in adolescent risks and behaviors in recent years threatens adolescents' mental well-being more than ever. This article explores vulnerable adolescent populations, describes the importance of nurses in all categories of assessment for adolescent mental health, and identifies assessment strategies and immediate interventions for successful outcomes.

International and Spanish Findings in Scientific Literature about Minors' Mental Health: Predictive Factors Using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire

Minors' mental health is a subject of high global concern. Understanding the factors that influence their mental health is essential to improving the health of future generations. In this study, an analysis of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire's usefulness is carried out, as a validated tool, recognized in Spain and internationally, for the measurement of minors' mental health. In turn, the influence of the variables of gender, age, and physical health, along with the occupational social class of parents on Spanish minors' mental health, has been analyzed. Spanish minors with good physical health and of parents with middle and higher education, as well as in an occupational social class, are less likely to suffer mental health problems. On the other hand, it seems that internalizing symptoms are more likely in girls, and externalizing symptoms are more likely in boys. However, when a global measure of mental health is made without specific subscales, the effects of gender and age diverge greatly, according to the studies. Although there are examples of current research using the same measurement tool, there is still a need for many more international studies that are coordinated using the same methodology. This study identifies the factors which the international and Spanish scientific literature has revealed as being determinants in minors' mental health. Finally, it is essential that the influence of these factors be assessed in the areas of primary care and mental health to facilitate better detection, intervention, or prevention of mental health problems in today's children, as well as the children of future generations.

Empowering young people who experienced domestic violence and abuse: The development of a group therapy intervention

This article describes the development of a group-based therapeutic intervention for young people (YP) who have lived with domestic violence and abuse. The intervention was informed by interviews with 107 YP, focused on their experiences of coping, resilience and agency. The intervention draws on resources from systemic, creative and narrative approaches to group work, and aims to facilitate YP's expression of distress in a way that recognizes that it is embodied, contextual and relational. The intervention also explores YP's existing strategies for coping and maintaining a sense of agency, and works to harness, enhance and further develop those skills. We report on the pilot of this intervention, and its development and application across four European countries (the United Kingdom, Greece, Italy and Spain). We outline the goals, strengths and limitations of this group intervention, as well as the main challenges, hindrances and ethical dilemmas experienced by the research and intervention team. Implications for therapeutic practice and training are addressed.

Impact of the Familiar Environment in 11⁻14-Year-Old Minors' Mental Health

The analysis of the mental health in children under 14 years has become a research topic of global interest where the family can be a key factor for protection or risk against mental health problems. With this work, we intend to determine, employing binary logistic regression analysis, whether parental acceptance-rejection perceived by boys and girls can predict their mental health. Seven hundred sixty-two students participated, the average age was 12.23 years; 53.8% (n = 410) girls and 46.2% (n = 352) boys. We have used the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), self-reported version and the Affection Scale children version (EA-H) for parental acceptance-rejection to assess mental health. The odds ratio (OR) of the logistic models reports that there is a greater probability of having mental health problems in boys and girls when they perceive that they are highly criticized and rejected by their parents. With our work, we highlight the importance of the environment and family affection on mental health. The perception of the children about the rejection, aversion, and criticism of their parents constitutes a risk factor in the manifestation of mental health problems.