Emotional-behavioral resilience and competence in preschool children exposed and not exposed to intimate partner violence in early life

Abstract

Exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) during childhood is a risk factor for poor emotional-behavioral functioning. Despite this, many children show resilience in the face of IPV exposure. The current study aimed to identify characteristics associated with positive emotional-behavioral outcomes in 4-year-old children exposed to IPV in early life. Data were drawn from the Maternal Health Study (MHS), a prospective study of women during pregnancy and following the birth of their first child. Women were recruited from six Melbourne public hospitals between 2003 and 2005. Mother–child dyads (n = 1060) were included in the study using data collected during pregnancy; 12 months postpartum; an..