annotated bibliography of new zealand research into family violence

well and those which need improvement. The study involved a sample of 6 women who hadbeen granted protection orders by the Court. Unstructured interviews were held with eachparticipant. Research questions or themes centred around the background to the woman’sdecision to apply for an order, perspectives on the application process, perceptions of safetyafter having gained an order, breaches of the order, and the results of the enforcementprocess. Finally, overall impressions and recommendations as to how the orders could workbetter are highlighted.Source: Author’s abstractLewthwaite, A. (2000). A programme evaluation of a psychoeducational group for mothers ofchildren who have been sexually abused. Unpublished master’s thesis, University ofAuckland, New Zealand.See: www.nzfvc.org.nz/13132.pubTopic Areas: Child abuse and neglect, Sexual abuse, Women, Children, Social services,Prevention/intervention/treatment, Demographics/statisticsAbstract: This study investigated the initial stages of development of a 10-weekpsychoeducational group for 9 mothers of children who have been sexually abused. It wasdesigned to assist the group leaders to develop further a group intervention intended tobecome a feature of therapeutic services for mothers in Auckland. The evaluation designinvolved a before and after comparison, which included interviews and standardisedquestionnaires. Data analysis included both quantitative and qualitative methods. Anevaluation of the group itself was also conducted, involving assessment of mothers’ overallsatisfaction with the group and whether their stated needs and expectations were met. Themajority of mothers reported that they were satisfied with the group intervention, particularlyin terms of group process, support, and shared understanding. They all reported they werenow more confident in understanding and managing their children’s behaviour. However,aspects of the content and structure of the group need to be developed further, to incorporatemore systematic therapeutic components and more information on the investigation andjustice processes.Source: Author’s abstractLightfoot, S. (1997). Risk factors for a New Zealand sample of sexually enacting children andadolescents. Unpublished master’s thesis, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand.See: www.nzfvc.org.nz/13187.pubTopic Areas: Child abuse and neglect, Sexual abuse, Families, Children, Adolescents,Perpetrators/offenders, Victims/survivors, Children as victims, Demographics/statisticsAbstract: This study investigated the factors which may be implicated in the aetiology ofchild and adolescent sexually molestive behaviour. The author suggests that the availableliterature proposes that psychological, familial, and individual life-history factors areassociated. This study examined the individual and family characteristics of 20 sexuallyenacting children and adolescents, in comparison to a matched clinical sample of 20 nonperpetuatingchildren. The history of sexual abuse as a factor in sexual enacting is examinedand theoretical models for the aetiology of child and adolescent sexual enacting behaviour areexplored. Some of the findings from this study identify that sexually enacting children andadolescents are significantly more likely to: have been suspected of experiencing sexual abusethat was unable to be confirmed; have experienced more abuse and trauma, particularlyphysical abuse and verbal violence; have a history of multiple disruptions to attachment with106