Reading skills in children exposed to domestic violence.

摘要

This study examined the question of whether children exposed to domestic violence perform more poorly than control children on tests of reading and phonological processing. In addition, the study examined what factors are related to performance on the tests. Children 6-9 years old were recruited from domestic violence shelters and the community. Their mothers completed the following questionnaires: the Conflict Tactics Scales-Revised, measuring the frequency of violence in the home (CTS2; Straus, Hamby, Warren et al., 2003); the Conflict Tactics Scales-Parent Child Version, measuring the frequency of child maltreatment in the home (CTSPC; Straus, Hamby, Boney-McCoy et al., 2003); and the Child Behavior Checklist, measuring the child's behavioral problems (CBCL; Achenbach, 2001). The participants were divided into two groups (control or domestic violence) based on the mother's responses on the CTS2. The two groups were matched on age, gender, nonverbal IQ, and socioeconomic status. The children completed the following tests: the Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing, measuring phonological awareness and phonological memory skills (Wagner, Torgesen & Rashotte, 1999); the Woodcock Reading Mastery Tests-Revised, measuring word and nonword decoding and reading comprehension (Woodcock, 1987); the Matrices subtest of the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test, measuring nonverbal IQ (Kaufman & Kaufman, 1990), and a hearing screening. The domestic violence group performed significantly lower than controls on phonological awareness and all reading measures, but not on phonological memory. A higher percentage of children in the domestic violence group met the criteria for a reading problem (a score of 85 or below on one or more of the reading subtests) compared to the control group. Risk factors associated with poorer performance in the domestic violence group included externalizing behavior problems, family history of reading problems, lower socioeconomic status, shorter length of residence, psychological aggression of the mother's partner, and psychological aggression of the mother toward her partner.