Transcript Cathy Humphreys: `Thinking About The Way

Violence to the
Relationship between
Mothers and Children:
Steps to Recovery
Professor Cathy Humphreys
University of Melbourne &
Centre for Excellence in Child and
Family Welfare
Seminar Overview
Brief description of research project
Direct impact of domestic violence on
children
Impact on the relationship between
mothers and children
Undermining abuse tactics
The consequences of this attack
The concept of ‘Readiness’
Research Project
An action research project
Based in 10 refuges and 2 NSPCC children’s
projects
2 activity books
Focus groups x 8 + reference group
Interviews (52 children + 45 women);
12 Asian families
Reflection sheets from activities; 15 worker
interviews
Impact on children
102 children in refuges showed rates of
behavioural and emotional disturbance 2.5
times the rate of children living without
violence. (WOLFE et al., 1988)
Meta analysis of 118 studies showed
significantly poorer outcomes on 21
psychosocial measures for children
‘witnessing’ domestic violence, than those not
living with violence (Kitzmann et al, 2003).
A conspiracy of silence
NCH Action for Children study
of 108 mothers experiencing
domestic violence reported
17 per cent had talked to their
children about it (Abrahams, 1994).
Two other studies indicate fewer than one third
of children had talked about the violence and
abuse with their mothers (McGee, 2000; Mullender
et al., 2002)
Impact on relationship between
mothers and children
Direct and indirect attack on the
relationship between mothers and children
Not to pathologise – many strengths
Closest person is consistently
Mum
.
Undermining abuse tactics
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Direct – encouraging children to insult their
mothers
Indirect – disabling the mother physically so she is
unavailable to her children
Undermining abuse tactics
•
•
•
•
Disabling the mother physically through violence so
she is unavailable to her children.
Disabling the mother mentally through trauma and
depression so she is emotionally unavailable.
Criticising and insulting the mother in front of the
children which undermines their respect for her.
Women may also be sexually assaulted and
humiliated in front of their children
Consequences
The ‘absent presence’ of the perpetrator
Lack of communication due to the ‘veil of
secrecy’
Children ‘out of control’ – poor discipline
patterns in the family – too much or too little
or inconsistent
Lack of appropriate boundaries with some
children taking on ‘parenting’ or ‘carer’ roles
A mismatch between children’s needs and
their mother’s needs
Children’s recovery linked to their
mothers
Resilience in children linked to mother’s mental health
and recovery (Moore and Pepler, 1998)
Children’s perception that their mothers care and support
them (Goldblatt, 2003).
Strengthening communication (Humphreys et al 2006)
.
Activity Packs for
Mothers and children
Younger children pack and older children
pack
5 themes
Talking about feelings
Building self-esteem
Strengthening the relationship through
exploring similarities and differences
Safety
Talking about things that matter
Impact of the workbooks
Perception of effect of workbooks on
relationship
Making a positive difference
– 78% (n=35) a positive difference; 41% (n=18)
a major difference
A good thing to do
– 43% very positive; 33% positive
Perception of Communication
before using the activities
Perceived Levels of Communication with child
35
30
29
27
25
PERCEIVED LEVEL OF
COMMUNICATION PRIOR TO
RESEARCH
20
PERCEIVED LEVAL OF
COMMUNICATION AFTER
COMPLETING PACKS
16
15
15
10
5
3
0
Working on the workbooks
Quality time
Difficult but strengthening
Feelings about ‘dad’
Role of worker support
Changed perception of talking with
children
A difference to workers
Working with the Activities
Discuss what issues might be raised for
mothers, children and workers?
Participation and engagement
Readiness
– Organisational context
– Workers’ skills
Mothers readiness
– Talking about the past
– Crisis/timing
– Physical/mental health
– Attitude towards relationship
Children/young people
‘Readiness’
Women need to be in a position
strengthen the communication with their
children
Acknowledge the dv and are able to talk
about it
Recognise the children are affected
Beyond the immediate trauma/crisis
Recognise that children may need to
talk/spend time with them
Implications for policy and
practice
Beyond safety and parenting skills
Separation of services
Training needs
Exploring ‘readiness’
High support needs
Child contact issues
Beyond mother-blaming
Workbooks
Available from:
Humphreys, C., Mullender, A., Thiara, R.K. and
Skamballis, A. ( 2006) Talking to My Mum: A Picture
Workbook for Workers, Mothers and Children Affected
by Domestic Abuse London, Jessica Kingsley
Publications
A6 Humphreys, C., Mullender, A., Thiara, R.K. and
Skamballis, A. (2006) Talking About Domestic Abuse: A
Photo Activity Workbook to Develop Communication
Between Mothers and Young People. London, Jessica
Kingsley Publications
Footprint Books www.footprint.com.au