Tangled Trajectories: Exploring the Connections between Maternal PTSD Clusters and Young Children’s Internalizing and Externalizing Behavior in Dutch Domestic Violence Shelters.

This study investigates the relationship between maternal posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom clusters and young children’s internalizing and externalizing behavior in Dutch domestic violence (DV) shelters. Children in these shelters are susceptible to behavioral problems due to the potential modeling of maternal PTSD symptoms and compromised caregiving as a result of maternal symptoms. Examining maternal PTSD symptoms on a cluster level is crucial as individual presentations of symptoms after intimate partner violence (IPV) exposure can vary significantly, and identifying the specific clusters that predict child behavior in this context can inform targeted treatment efforts. The study uses baseline data from experimental research on effective DV shelter interventions. Maternal self-reported PTSD symptoms (n = 29) and child behavior reported by mothers and social workers are analyzed. Findings reveal that higher maternal PTSD symptoms are associated with increased...Show moreThis study investigates the relationship between maternal posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom clusters and young children’s internalizing and externalizing behavior in Dutch domestic violence (DV) shelters. Children in these shelters are susceptible to behavioral problems due to the potential modeling of maternal PTSD symptoms and compromised caregiving as a result of maternal symptoms. Examining maternal PTSD symptoms on a cluster level is crucial as individual presentations of symptoms after intimate partner violence (IPV) exposure can vary significantly, and identifying the specific clusters that predict child behavior in this context can inform targeted treatment efforts. The study uses baseline data from experimental research on effective DV shelter interventions. Maternal self-reported PTSD symptoms (n = 29) and child behavior reported by mothers and social workers are analyzed. Findings reveal that higher maternal PTSD symptoms are associated with increased externalizing problems in children, as reported by mothers. Specifically, symptoms related to negative mood and cognitions, and changes in arousal and reactivity are linked to higher externalizing problems when analyzed in simple regressions. No associations were found between maternal PTSD symptoms and child behavior as measured by social workers or in multiple regression analyses. There were also no associations between maternal symptoms and child internalizing problems. These results underscore the importance of personalized trauma support for women in DV shelters, benefiting both mothers and their children.Show less

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Tangled Trajectories: Exploring the Connections between Maternal PTSD Clusters and Young Children’s Internalizing and Externalizing Behavior in Dutch Domestic Violence Shelters.