ABSTRACT
In this chapter, general issues for children who are not in families from the dominant culture within the mainstream are considered in terms of the impact of exposure to interparental violence. These youngsters include those who are members of ethnic minority groups or whose parents are gay men or lesbian women. This chapter is somewhat different from the previous ones, since much of what follows here is based on conjecture and on extrapolation from other samples of children. Even speculation is difficult, because in both areas of literature, children exposed to interparental violence and culturally or individually diverse youngsters, relatively little information is available. Models describing the impact of exposure for children, especially as it relates to their psychological adjustment, were presented in previous chapters. However, these models were not developed specifically for families from diverse backgrounds. In this chapter some empirically based and conceptually based arguments will be made that represent an educated guess regarding the impact of exposure on nonmainstream children. In addition, some literature will be presented that provides information regarding possibly unique ways children from various backgrounds might respond. This information will be based on material that both describes children in the individually and culturally diverse groups and their general adjustment and discusses typical ways they might respond to adversity and demonstrate distress.
