Why are some young victims of domestic violence resilient?
More than 10 million U.S. children witness domestic violence yearly, resulting in a range of emotional and behavioural problems. A new study suggests that the reason some of these children are resilient is because of their easy temperaments and because they have mentally healthy moms. The longitudinal study, conducted by researchers at Michigan State University, is published in the March/April 2009 issue of the journal Child Development. The researchers looked at more than 100 American children who had witnessed violent acts against their mothers when the children were 2, 3, and 4 years old. They also looked at more than 70 children who hadn’t witnessed violence against their mothers. Children exposed to violence were almost four times more likely than others to develop emotional or behavioural problems. However, more than half of the children who were exposed to violence adapted well, at least in part because of their easy-going natures and the mental health of their mothers. Easy-goi
