Young children are at signi fi cant risk of exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV), and vul- nerable to exposure-related psychopathology, yet few studies investigate the e ff ects of exposure to IPV on children under the age of 5 years. The current study investigated the role of maternal PTSD symptoms and parenting strategies in the relationship between mothers ’ IPV experiences and psychopathology in their young children, ages 3 – 6 years in a community-based cohort of 308 mother-child dyads at high risk for family violence. Data were collected from 2011 to 2014. IPV history and maternal PTSD symptoms were assessed by self-report questionnaires. Children ’ s symptoms were assessed with a developmentally-sensitive psychiatric interview administered to mothers. Punitive/restrictive parenting was independently-coded from in-depth interviews with mothers about their disciplinary practices. Hypothesized direct and indirect pathways between physical and psychological IPV, maternal PTSD, maternal parenting style, and children ’ s inter- nalizing and externalizing symptoms were examined with mediation models. Results indicated that neither physical nor psychological IPV experienced by mothers was directly associated with children ’ s symptoms. However, both types of victimization were associated with maternal PTSD symptoms. Examination of indirect pathways suggested that maternal PTSD symptoms mediated the relationship between mothers ’ psychological and physical IPV experiences and children ’ s internalizing and externalizing symptoms and mothers ’ restrictive/punitive parenting mediated the relationship between mothers ’ psychological IPV and children ’ s externalizing symptoms. In addition, there was a path from maternal physical IPV to child externalizing symptoms through both maternal PTSD symptoms and restrictive/punitive parenting. Findings highlight the im- portance of supporting parents in recovering from the sequelae of their own traumatic experi- ences, as their ensuing mental health symptoms and parenting behaviors may have a signi fi cant impact on their children ’ s emotional health.
