In the Journal of Advanced Nursing, Nova Scholar Christina Bethell and co-authors compare the health outcomes of children whose mothers experience high versus low exposure to post-separation abuse and coercion.
Among nearly 500 family court-involved mothers in the United States, researchers found that children whose mothers faced higher levels of abuse were significantly more likely to experience anxiety, chronic pain, stomach and intestinal problems, and other special health care needs. These children were also more likely to have unmet mental health needs despite being more likely to receive mental health diagnoses, suggesting they face both greater health challenges and barriers to accessing care. The findings highlight the far-reaching effects of post-separation abuse on children’s physical and mental health and underscore the need for interventions that better support affected families and improve access to health care.
