This research focused on women and their children who have recently moved in to a women’s shelter after experiencing domestic violence. Women who have suffered domestic violence have a high chance...Show moreThis research focused on women and their children who have recently moved in to a women’s shelter after experiencing domestic violence. Women who have suffered domestic violence have a high chance of developing trauma-related symptoms, which can affect their mental health and parenting skills. Often, these women’s children are at risk of developing externalizing behaviour, which can lead to violent and criminal behaviour in the future. This research aimed to study the relationship between trauma-related symptoms in mothers and externalizing behaviour of their children. The age at which mothers had their first child was used as a moderator. Data was collected within the research project Samen Stap Voor Stap Vooruit, by visiting women in their shelter. There were three visits per participant, each consisting of a set of questionnaires being taken and video recordings being made of the interaction between mother and child. Data from questionnaires of the first visit were used for this paper. After performing regression analyses with trauma-related symptoms and age of first becoming a mother as independent variables and children’s externalizing behaviour as dependent variable, no relation was found between these variables for the total model. However, there was a positive relation between the age at which a mother had her first child and the externalizing behaviour of the participating child. Children of mothers who were older at first conception were more likely to score higher on externalizing behaviour. The idea of social timing can possibly explain this, with older mothers perhaps having a smaller social safety net, more health issues, less energy, or having stayed longer in the abusive relationship. Further research about the possible relation between being a relatively older mother and externalizing problems in the children is encouraged, as current literature about this topic is slim.Show less
