The primary purpose of the proposed research is to evaluate a multi-component intervention designed to reduce conduct problems exhibited by children of battered women. Participants will be 180 families (mothers and children) who have sought refuge at a shelter for battered women, are in the process of setting up a residence independent of their violent partners, and have a child aged 4-7 years exhibiting aggressive/oppositional behavior. Families will be randomly assigned to either an intervention or comparison condition. The intervention will have two primary components: (1) teaching mothers child-management skills, and (2) providing mothers and children with social and instrumental support. Treatment will last for up to 8 months, with sessions conducted weekly in the families' homes. The comparison condition consists of existing services. All families will participate in an initial comprehensive assessment which will include measurements of child conduct problems, mothers' parenting skills, mothers' psychological distress, and mothers' social contacts. Initial assessments will take place as soon as possible following a family's departure from the shelter. Follow-up assessments will be conducted at 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 months following the initial assessment.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH053380-03
Application #
2416083
Study Section
Violence and Traumatic Stress Review Committee (VTS)
Project Start
1995-09-15
Project End
2001-04-30
Budget Start
1997-06-01
Budget End
1998-04-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1997
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Houston
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
800771594
City
Houston
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
77204
Jouriles, Ernest N; Rosenfield, David; McDonald, Renee et al. (2018) Children Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence: Conduct Problems, Interventions, and Partner Contact With the Child. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol 47:397-409
Spiller, Laura C; Jouriles, Ernest N; McDonald, Renee et al. (2012) Physically Abused Women's Experiences of Sexual Victimization and their Children's Disruptive Behavior Problems. Psychol Violence 2:401-410
McDonald, Renee; Dodson, Mary Catherine; Rosenfield, David et al. (2011) Effects of a parenting intervention on features of psychopathy in children. J Abnorm Child Psychol 39:1013-23
McDonald, Renee; Jouriles, Ernest N; Rosenfield, David et al. (2011) Predictors of domestically violent men's aggression toward children: a prospective study. J Fam Psychol 25:11-8
Jouriles, Ernest N; McDonald, Renee; Rosenfield, David et al. (2009) Reducing conduct problems among children exposed to intimate partner violence: a randomized clinical trial examining effects of Project Support. J Consult Clin Psychol 77:705-717
McDonald, Renee; Jouriles, Ernest N; Tart, Candyce D et al. (2009) Children's adjustment problems in families characterized by men's severe violence toward women: does other family violence matter? Child Abuse Negl 33:94-101