[Child behaviour problems and parenting skills of mothers in environments of intimate partner violence]

Abstract

Objective: To assess the behavioural problems of children who have been exposed to intimate partner violence situations, and the moderating effect of mother parenting.

Method: We analysed, using the Child Behavior CheckList, behavioural problems of 46 children between 6 and 16 years, and the relationship between the detected problems and parenting skills shown in the mother-child interaction in shelters.

Results: Increased behavioural problems were detected in children, compared with normative population. Difficulties in parenting skills in mother-child interaction especially connect with the manifestation of externalizing problems in children.

Conclusions: Living in a gender violence environment affects children's psychosocial adjustment and it damages the victim's parental competence. Consequently, the intervention of socio-health professionals with Intimate partner violence victims should pay more attention to detect the difficulties of children and restore the parenting skills of the mothers in order to alleviate the repercussions of gender violence on their children.

Keywords: Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL); Child behavior problems; Competencias parentales; Intimate partner violence; Parenting; Problemas de conducta infantil; Violencia del compañero íntimo.