Dyadic Profiles of Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in Mothers and Children Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Dyadic Profiles of Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in Mothers and Children Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence Maria M. Galano1 · Andrew C. Grogan‑Kaylor2 · Sara F. Stein2,3 · Hannah M. Clark4 · Sandra A. Graham‑Bermann3
© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Children who witness intimate partner violence (IPV) develop posttraumatic stress disorder at alarmingly high rates. Research suggests that caregivers’ symptoms of posttraumatic stress (PTSS) often co-occur alongside children’s PTSS, a phenomenon termed “relational posttraumatic stress.” The goal of this study is to use dyad-centered analyses to examine heterogeneity in relational PTSS presentations in mother–child dyads, and to determine factors differentiating relational PTSS profiles. Data were drawn from a sample of 231 IPV-exposed, ethno-racially diverse mother–child dyads, with children ranging from ages 4 to 12. The results of a latent profile analysis indicated that a two-profile model was the best fit with the data. Both profiles indicated similar levels of PTSS across the dyad; however, they differed in overall symptom severity. Parenting and IPV severity significantly predicted profile membership; however, age did not. Results suggest that similarities in PTSS presentation should be expected in mother–child dyads, at least in families who experience IPV. Keywords Intimate partner violence · Parenting · Parent–child relationships · Posttraumatic stress
Introduction Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a highly prevalent public health issue, affecting nearly five million women each year [1]. These experiences of IPV can have serious negative impacts on women’s functioning. Research has demonstrated that women who experience IPV are more likely to struggle with substance use problems, suicidality, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) [2–4]. Moreover, many children are directly affected by IPV, as approximately eight million children are exposed to this type of violence each year [5]. Children who witness IPV are at higher risk for developing significant mental health problems, including PTSD [6]. In fact, one recent meta-analysis estimated the * Maria M. Galano [email protected] 1
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Tobin Hall 615, 135 Hicks Way, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
2
School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
3
Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
4
Ascend Consultation in Health Care, Urbana, IL, USA
prevalence of child PTSD to be about 25% for interpersonal traumas such as IPV [7]. Given the high prevalence and severity of childhood PTSD, researchers have investigated risk factors that increase children’s susceptibility for developing this disorder. Having a parent with a mental health problem has been identified as a significant risk factor for the development of childhood PTSD, with an estimated effect size (Pearson’s correlation coefficient, r) of 0.29 across 25 st
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