Strengthening the mother-child relationship following domestic abuse

Evaluation findingsEmma Smith 2015 BASPCAN presentation

Aims: - rebuild mother/child relationship - support other aspects of recovery

Theory of change:- Child recovery from DA facilitated by non-abusing parent - Mother/child relationship may need strengthening to support this

Innovative programme with: - Joint and separate sessions- 2.5 hour sessions for 10 weeks- Developed by Gwynne Rayns

Domestic Abuse Recovering Together (DART)

Design:

- Mixed methods.

- Impact and process evaluation

- Quasi-experimental

- Small comparison group: Play therapy at refuge (n = 18)

Methods:

- before (T1), after (T2) and 6 months later (T3)

- Surveys, interviews and standardised measures

Participants:

- Mothers, children, DART practitioners and referrers

DART Evaluation: Methodology

Outcomes:

-Improvements to self esteem, mother/child relationship, child’s behaviour, child well-being, mother’s parenting

Measures:

Rosenberg self esteem scale, SDQs, Parental acceptance and rejection questionnaires, Parental Locus of control scale

Numbers:

Mothers T1 = 158, T2 = 88 T3 = 22

Children T1 = 166, T2 = 96 T3 = 274

DART Evaluation: Methodology

Key improvements and statistical findings

DART Mothers:

- Greater self esteem

- More confidence in parenting

- Warmer and more affectionate to child

- Fewer ‘rejecting’ parenting behaviours

- Rated DART highly (4.8 out of 5)

- Most improvements maintained at T3

DART Children

- Fewer emotional and behavioural difficulties

- Greater improvements than comparison group

- Reported mother as warmer and more affectionate

- Rated DART highly (4.7 out of 5)

- Most improvements maintained at T3

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Changes to mother’s clinical categories:

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Informed consentParticipant distressedNeed identifie

Within normal range at T1 (n = 44)

Below normal range at T1 (n = 37)

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

7% 70%

38%

23%

62%

Changes in mother's self-esteem categories

Deteriorated

Stayed the same

Improved

Changes to children’s clinical categories:

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Informed consentParticipant distressedNeed identifie

Low need

Some need

High need

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

4%

7%

96%

21%

55%

71%

46%

Changes in children's 'total difficulties' categories (SDQ)

Deteriorated

Stayed the same

Improved

Joint sessions:

- Bonding activities, tailored parenting advice, discuss abuse

Creative activities:

- Child-friendly, suitable for sensitive topics, considered fun, child able to illustrate experience of DA (very powerful)

Skilled practitioners:

- Open-minded, non-judgemental, safe environment created

Separate sessions:

- Peer support, experiences shared in more depth

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What worked well? (key facilitators)

Initial lack of flexibility

- Original manual ‘too prescriptive’ need to adapt to individual needs

Contact with perpetrator

- Could disrupt progress when child hears negative things about mother. Some mothers resumed abusive relationship.

- Disruptive group members

- Some overly dominant, inappropriate comments

Mothers not ready for group work

- anxious, overwhelmed, not ready to focus on child’s needs

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What were the barriers?

Conclusions and next steps

DART is an effective approach which supports mother/child recovery following DA

Some families with higher levels of need may need additional support following the programme

Mothers may benefit from pre-group sessions

Adapted version of DART has been developed with pre-group work element.

Evaluation of adapted approach

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