SMU Family Research Center

UPI: Abusive mothers can improve parenting

UPI covered the research of SMU psychologists Ernest Jouriles, Renee McDonald, David Rosenfield and Deborah Corbitt-Shindler in a July 30 story "Abusive mothers can improve parenting." The research found that abusive mothers, who are taught parenting skills and given emotional support, can improve their parenting skills, the researchers say.

Abusive mothers improve their parenting after home visits, classes and emotional support from therapists

Each year, U.S. child welfare agencies log more than 3 million reports of child abuse and neglect involving nearly 6 million children.

There are many types of services to address child abuse but very little scientific data about whether the services actually work, according to SMU psychologists Ernest Jouriles and Renee McDonald.