annotated bibliography of new zealand research into family violence

Maxwell, G., & Carroll-Lind, J. (1998). Distorted childhoods: The meaning of violence for children.Social Policy Journal of New Zealand, (10), 177-189.See: www.nzfvc.org.nz/12993.pubTopic Areas: Child abuse and neglect, Physical abuse, Psychological/emotional abuse,Sexual abuse, Families, Children, Children as witnesses, Legislation, Policy, Prevention/intervention/treatmentAbstract: This article explores children’s perspectives and experiences of violence.Definitions of violence are discussed, with the witnessing of violence by children classified asa form of psychological abuse. The authors emphasise the dearth of research in New Zealandpertaining to children’s experiences of violence. The authors conducted a study of 259children, aged 11 to 13 years, to investigate the impact of violence on children, and whatevents affect them the most. Approximately half of the sample had witnessed adults fightingin the home. The authors found that witnessing violence was significantly detrimental tochildren, emphasising the vulnerability of children to events occurring around them. Sexual‘touching’ and physical violence towards children was uncommon, but when this did occur,the impact on the child was substantial with largely emotional as opposed to physicalconsequences. Implications for policy and practice, and means of prevention and interventionare discussed.Maynard, K., & Wood, B. (2002). Tatou tatou - working together: A model for government/nongovernmentcollaboration [Electronic version]. Social Policy Journal of New Zealand, (18),79-91.See: www.nzfvc.org.nz/12180.pubTopic Areas: Policy, Intersectoral collaborationAbstract: This article describes the development process underpinning Te Rito: New ZealandFamily Violence Prevention Strategy, the Government’s strategy for preventing, reducing andaddressing family violence, which was launched in March 2002. It also discusses some of theassociated challenges and constraints from both a government and non-governmentperspective, and demonstrates innovative ways of meeting some of these challenges.McCarthy, J. (2005). When the living room is a battlefield: Posttraumatic stress disorder in victims ofdomestic violence. Unpublished master’s thesis, University of Waikato, Hamilton, NewZealand.See: www.nzfvc.org.nz/13270.pubTopic Areas: Intimate partner abuse, Women, Children, Victims/survivors, Children aswitnesses, Mental health, Social services, Prevention/intervention/treatmentAbstract: This thesis explores three women’s experiences of post traumatic stress disorder(PTSD) symptoms as a consequence of being abused by an intimate partner and the impact ofPTSD symptoms on their lives. The purpose of this research was to document the impact thatPTSD symptoms have on victims of domestic violence. In the first part of the study, in-depthinterviews were undertaken with the 3 participants. The results of this study suggest that theimpact of PTSD induced by male partner violence has profound effects on victims ofdomestic violence and their children. Participants’ level of impairment ranged from mild tosevere. These interviews confirm that PTSD often goes undiagnosed, and therefore untreated.Participants found it difficult to separate the impact of domestic violence on their lives fromthe impact of their PTSD symptoms. However, there is evidence that ‘something’, whether it113