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Abstract

Given that so many children are exposed to domestic violence and that such exposure is harmful to their short-as well as long-term functioning and well-being, it is critical to understand why some caretakers act to protect their children from the violence and others show greater passivity. To that end, in-depth interviews were conducted with 26 women victims of domestic violence, all of whom had children. The interviews addressed the women's feelings about and views of their children and their caregiving responses in the face of the violence. Two sets of themes emerged that help explain individual differences in protective and nurturing behaviors: adultification of children and psychological traps involving the batterer's role in the children's lives. Based on these themes, recommendations for interventions to better serve the needs of battered women and their children are offered.

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Battered Women's Views of Their Children

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