Strengthening the mother-child relationship following domestic abuse
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Transcript of Strengthening the mother-child relationship following domestic abuse
Strengthening the mother-child relationship following domestic abuse
Evaluation findingsEmma Smith 2015 BASPCAN presentation
Aims: - rebuild mother/child relationship - support other aspects of recovery
Theory of change:- Child recovery from DA facilitated by non-abusing parent - Mother/child relationship may need strengthening to support this
Innovative programme with: - Joint and separate sessions- 2.5 hour sessions for 10 weeks- Developed by Gwynne Rayns
Domestic Abuse Recovering Together (DART)
Design:
- Mixed methods.
- Impact and process evaluation
- Quasi-experimental
- Small comparison group: Play therapy at refuge (n = 18)
Methods:
- before (T1), after (T2) and 6 months later (T3)
- Surveys, interviews and standardised measures
Participants:
- Mothers, children, DART practitioners and referrers
DART Evaluation: Methodology
Outcomes:
-Improvements to self esteem, mother/child relationship, child’s behaviour, child well-being, mother’s parenting
Measures:
Rosenberg self esteem scale, SDQs, Parental acceptance and rejection questionnaires, Parental Locus of control scale
Numbers:
Mothers T1 = 158, T2 = 88 T3 = 22
Children T1 = 166, T2 = 96 T3 = 274
DART Evaluation: Methodology
Key improvements and statistical findings
DART Mothers:
- Greater self esteem
- More confidence in parenting
- Warmer and more affectionate to child
- Fewer ‘rejecting’ parenting behaviours
- Rated DART highly (4.8 out of 5)
- Most improvements maintained at T3
DART Children
- Fewer emotional and behavioural difficulties
- Greater improvements than comparison group
- Reported mother as warmer and more affectionate
- Rated DART highly (4.7 out of 5)
- Most improvements maintained at T3
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Changes to mother’s clinical categories:
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Informed consentParticipant distressedNeed identifie
Within normal range at T1 (n = 44)
Below normal range at T1 (n = 37)
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
7% 70%
38%
23%
62%
Changes in mother's self-esteem categories
Deteriorated
Stayed the same
Improved
Changes to children’s clinical categories:
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Informed consentParticipant distressedNeed identifie
Low need
Some need
High need
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
4%
7%
96%
21%
55%
71%
46%
Changes in children's 'total difficulties' categories (SDQ)
Deteriorated
Stayed the same
Improved
Joint sessions:
- Bonding activities, tailored parenting advice, discuss abuse
Creative activities:
- Child-friendly, suitable for sensitive topics, considered fun, child able to illustrate experience of DA (very powerful)
Skilled practitioners:
- Open-minded, non-judgemental, safe environment created
Separate sessions:
- Peer support, experiences shared in more depth
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What worked well? (key facilitators)
Initial lack of flexibility
- Original manual ‘too prescriptive’ need to adapt to individual needs
Contact with perpetrator
- Could disrupt progress when child hears negative things about mother. Some mothers resumed abusive relationship.
- Disruptive group members
- Some overly dominant, inappropriate comments
Mothers not ready for group work
- anxious, overwhelmed, not ready to focus on child’s needs
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What were the barriers?
Conclusions and next steps
DART is an effective approach which supports mother/child recovery following DA
Some families with higher levels of need may need additional support following the programme
Mothers may benefit from pre-group sessions
Adapted version of DART has been developed with pre-group work element.
Evaluation of adapted approach
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