This article presents results of a study examining what happens to children when domestic violence is committed against their
mothers. While many investigations have pointed to child exposure to violence in homes where women are battered, few have
examined direct reports about what happens to children when adult domestic violence occurs. This study collected direct reports
from mothers on real-life events and was designed to go beyond earlier research by eliciting information on a larger array
of family and contextual factors that may account for variation in mother’s and their children’s direct and indirect exposure
to violence within the same home. Anonymous telephone interviews with 111 battered mothers in four metropolitan areas across
the United States elicited detailed information from women on the violence against them and their children. Findings confirm
the seriousness of co-occurring mother and child exposure to violence. The research also revealed that women and children
were often injured while trying to protect each other from the abuser. The article concludes by recommending further enhancing
collaboration between child protection and battered women’s services; augmenting prevention and early intervention services
to families experiencing adult domestic violence; and focusing on protecting and increasing the safety of
both children and their battered mothers.
Keywords Domestic violence - Children - Exposure - Battered mothers
Copies of the interview guide used in this study are available by writing to the Minnesota Center Against Violence and Abuse,
School of Social Work, University of Minnesota, 105 Peters Hall, 1404 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108.