Children's Intimate Partner Violence Exposure and Mothers' Eviction Stress

Intimate partner violence has profound impacts on the housing insecurity of mothers and children. Abusers may control household finances, cause property damage or nuisance complaints, or create financial dependence that prevents survivors from fleeing. Mothers who are survivors of IPV must navigate safety and housing security for themselves and their children with strained social networks and scarce resources. IPV is a known risk factor for housing insecurity and homelessness, but little is known about the extent to which it drives eviction‐related stress in mothers. The present study used data on renting mothers from the 2023 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH; N = 5902) to investigate the following research question: Is children's IPV exposure in the home associated with increased stress about eviction among mothers? Results of an ordered logistic regression model found that IPV exposure was associated with significantly higher levels of eviction stress, above and beyond known eviction risk factors like missed rent payments, residential mobility and prior homelessness. Findings suggest that eviction is a significant concern in households with prior IPV exposure. Stronger housing protections for survivors and their children offer promise to prevent the adverse physical, mental and financial consequences of eviction.