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A Comparison of Mothers with Co-occurring Disorders and Histories of Violence Living with or Separated from Minor Children

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Abstract

Data from the Women with Co-occurring Disorders and Histories of Violence Study are used to examine characteristics distinguishing mothers currently providing care for all their minor children (n = 558) from mothers separated from one or more minor children (n = 1396). Mothers are described and compared on background characteristics and experiences, well-being and current functioning, situational context, and services used. Analyses control for number of children, race, and years of education. Mothers separated from children have more children, less education, have more often been homeless, in juvenile detention or jail, and have lower incomes than mothers living with all their children. Mothers separated from children have more extensive experiences of traumatic and stressful life events, and the groups differ in current functioning and patterns of services used. While cross-sectional data do not allow causal inferences, challenges faced by mothers have significant implications for policy and programs.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded under Guidance for Applicants (GFA) No. TI 00-003 entitled Cooperative Agreement to Study Women with Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health (ADM Disorders who have Histories of Violence: Phase II) from the Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's three centers: Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Center for Mental Health Services, and Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (March 2000).

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  1. Center for Mental Health Services Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA, 01655, USA

    Joanne Nicholson PhD (Professor, Psychiatry)

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  1. Joanne Nicholson PhD
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  2. Norma Finkelstein PhD
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  3. Valerie Williams MA, MS
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  4. Jennifer Thom MA
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  5. Chanson Noether MA
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  6. Megan DeVilbiss BSW
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Correspondence to Joanne Nicholson PhD.

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Norma Finkelstein, PhD, is the Executive Director of W.E.L.L. Project, Institute for Health and Recovery, 349 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. Phone: +1-617-6613991. Fax: +1-617-6617277. E-mail: normafinkelstein@healthrecovery.org.

Valerie Williams, MA, MS, is a Research Instructor at the Center for Mental Health Services Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, USA. Phone: +1-508-8568081. Fax: +1-508-8568700. E-mail: Valerie.Williams@Umassmed.edu.

Jennifer Thom, MA, ETR Associates/ALLIES, 777 North Pershing Avenue, Suite 2-B, Stockton, CA 95203, USA. Phone: +1-209-9434600. Fax: +1-209-9434630. E-mail: jennifert@etr.org.

Chanson Noether, MA, Policy Research Associates/WCDVS, 345 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, NY 12054, USA. Phone: +1-518-4397415. Fax: +1-518-4397612. E-mail: cnoether@prainc.com

Megan DeVilbiss, BSW, Arapahoe House, Inc., 8801 Lipan Street, Thornton, CO 80260, USA. Phone: +1-303-6573700. Fax: +1-303-7941986. E-mail: mdevilbiss@ahinc.org.

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Nicholson, J., Finkelstein, N., Williams, V. et al. A Comparison of Mothers with Co-occurring Disorders and Histories of Violence Living with or Separated from Minor Children. JBHSR 33, 225–243 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-006-9015-5

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