Abstract:
Objective: To describe longitudinal change in child behavior problems associated with resolution of intimate partner violence (IPV) after an investigation for suspected child maltreatment. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Data Source: The National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being, a nationally representative longitudinal sample of U.S. households investigated for suspected child maltreatment. Participants: 320 school-aged NSCAW subjects with caregiver-reported IPV in the year prior to baseline interview. Caregivers were interviewed an average of 3, 20, 36, and 81 months following investigation. Main Exposure: Resolution vs. persistence of baseline IPV. Persistence defined by report of IPV during any follow-up interview. Outcome Measures: Clinically significant internalizing or externalizing child behavior problems. Results: 44.6% of caregivers reporting IPV at the baseline interview reported persistent IPV. After adjusting for significant covariates, IPV resolution was associated with an 11.9% reduction in internalizing problems by 81 months (p=0.03); IPV persistence was associated with persistence in baseline problems. IPV resolution was associated with an 18.5% reduction in externalizing problems by 20 months that was sustained at 36 and 81 months (all p<0.05). IPV persistence was associated with a steady but non-significant increase in externalizing behavior problems over 81 months (10.1%, p=0.07). Adjusted relative risk of internalizing and externalizing behavior problems 81 months following CPS investigation for children exposed to persistent vs resolved IPV was 1.79 (0.91, 3.52) and 1.88 (1.12, 3.18), respectively. Conclusions: Resolution of IPV after a CPS investigation for suspected child maltreatment is associated with meaningful, sustained reductions in clinically significant child behavior problems. (Author Abstract)