Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms in Siblings Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence: The Role of Mother-Child Relationships

It is well documented that exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) negatively affects children's developmental outcomes (see reviews: Chan & Yeung, 2009; Evans, Davies & DiLillo, 2008; Kitzmann, Gaylord, Holt & Kenny, 2003; Wolfe, Crooks, Lee, McInttyre-Smith & Jaffe, 2003) and may lead to the expression of symptomatology consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Graham-Bermann, De Voe, Mattis, Lynch & Thomas, 2006; Kilpatrick & Williams, 1997, 1998; Rossman, 1998). In North America, the prevalence and incidence rates of childhood experiences of IPV vary greatly due to definitional, theoretical, and methodological issues (Holden, 2003). However, regardless of this variation, it remains a serious current public health problem in Canada (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2010). While many risk and protective factors have been investigated, there is currently no consensus as to the nature of the influence of mother-child relationships on child outcomes such as post-traumatic stress symptoms in IPV-exposed families. The present study examined the role of maternal influences, such as the quality of mother-child interaction, maternal depression, and maternal violence history on sibling trauma outcomes. Results indicated that increased maternal depressive symptoms, maternal violence history, and negative mother-child interactions did not significantly predict post-traumatic stress symptoms in siblings exposed to IPV. Findings provided support for the notion of maternal compensatory strategies used to protect siblings from the detrimental consequences of IPV exposure. Strengths, limitations, and future research considerations were also presented.