DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN A CHILD WELFARE CONTEXT: INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE, POVERTY, AND THEIR LINK TO PARENTING ABILITIES

The current study examined the prevalence of co-occurring woman abuse and poverty in a sample of mothers from the Children’s Aid Society of London/Middlesex. This study sought to determine the extent to which domestic violence and poverty influence the parenting abilities of single mothers by examining parenting capacity scores on the Ontario Risk Assessment Model (ORAM). The findings indicated that poverty compromised the parenting abilities of mothers in this sample. This study challenged current literature on domestic violence and parenting, which emphasizes deficiencies in the parenting of women who are experiencing abuse, by indicating that survivors of domestic violence may be compensating for the abuse they are experiencing. Furthermore, co-occurring poverty and violence was not subject to a cumulative negative effect on parenting. Implications of the findings for both practitioners and policy makers in the fields of domestic violence, child welfare, and social assistance are discussed.

Name thesis:degree_name

M Ed

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Education

Year dc:date.issued

2009

Author dc:creator

• Hernandez, Andrea M.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Leschied, Alan

• Domestic violence
• Woman Abuse
• Poverty
• Child Welfare
• Parenting Abilities

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14721/19037

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:uwo.scholaris.ca:20.500.14721/19037