Masters Theses

Date of Award

8-2025

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Child and Family Studies

Major Professor

Megan Haselschwerdt

Committee Members

Elizabeth I. Johnson, Kristen Ravi

Abstract

Mothering through intimate partner violence (IPV) is difficult, complex, and impactful on both the mothers and children in the home. Millions of youth experience childhood exposure to domestic violence (CEDV) while growing up, including witnessing, overhearing, or becoming victimized during the violence. Much of what we know about the mother-child relationship in the context of CEDV comes from maternal reports, with limited insight into this critical dyadic relationship from a youth perspective. Without empirical knowledge on both maternal and child perspectives, mother-child or child-centered interventions may be as enjoyable and efficacious for the participating youth. Guided by Family Systems Theory and spillover and compensatory hypotheses, I conducted a theoretical thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 25 college-attending young adults who had histories of father-mother-perpetrated CEDV on their mother-child relationship experiences while growing up through early young adulthood. The findings from this study suggest that young adults with CEDV perceive their mothers and their mother-child relationships in complex and sometimes contradictory ways that I organized into five, interconnected yet distinct themes capturing the young adults’ perceptions of mother-child communication, safety planning, seeing their mothers through a positive light, seeing their mothers through a negative light, and the evolution of how they viewed their mother and their relationship over time. This study’s participants had lingering resentment, frustration, and guilt alongside protective loyalty, empathy, and love towards their mothers, highlighting the complexity of IPV’s impact not just on the victimized parent and child outcomes but also on mother-child relationships over time. Future empirical research should continue to amplify youth voices to better understand the impact of CEDV on their familial and other interpersonal relationships, particularly during pivotal developmental transition periods, such as young adulthood. Future interventions and programs for mother-child dyads and youth with CEDV histories should be informed by mothers, children, and young adults’ perspectives to foster better communication and strategies that promote healing and bonding among victimized dyads.

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Thank you SO much for your help in figuring out the List of Tables!

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