ABSTRACT
This study identifies and compares health, developmental, and behavioral risk markers in preschool children of battered and nonbattered women. Participants were children ages 2 to 6 from the shelter for battered women (n = 53) and health department controls (n = 62), composed of children of nonbattered women in the same age range, region, and social strata. Measures included the Conflict Tactics Scale, Intake Checklist Screening Instrument, the Denver II Developmental Screening Test, physical assessment, height, weight, hemoglobin and lead levels, and immunization and non-motor-vehicle accident history. Results showed site differences in group means on most behavioral subscales, physical risk index, Denver II, and race. Discriminant function analysis revealed sites were distinguishable with 80% of grouped cases correctly classified.
