Mothers rated their child's or children's behavior on the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist and completed measures of family violence (Conflict Tactics scale) and maternal stress (Life Experiences Survey and General Health Questionnaire). The results indicated that children of battered women were rated lower in social competence than were those in the comparison group. Among the sample of 102 children from violent families, 34 percent of the boys and 20 percent of the girls fell within the clinical range of behavior problems. Multiple regression of analyses revealed that maternal stress and family violence variables combined accounted for 19 percent of the variance in child behavior problems and accounted for 16 percent of the variance in social competence. In accordance with theoretical predictions, the impact upon the child witnessing family violence may be partially mediated by factors associated with maternal stress. Strategies to prevent maladjustment of children from violent homes are discussed from these findings. (Publisher abstract)