A brief review of the research literature describing detrimental influences of spouse abuse on children's adjustment indicates that certain factors mediate the consequences for children exposed to spouse abuse. Child-related factors include temperament, self-esteem, cognitive ability, coping ability, attributional style, gender, and age. Situational/contextual factors include the child's past experience with violence, the family's perceived emotional climate, and marital conflict. Several theoretical/conceptual models are presented to assist in understanding how the impact of spouse abuse on young children's psychological and emotional functioning takes place. The models suggest both direct and indirect mechanisms of influence. Direct mechanisms include aggression and stress, while indirect mechanisms concern characteristics of parent-child interaction and disciplinary practices. Recommendations regarding clinical interventions are delineated based on the models and available research on the treatment of children of battered women. Suggestions related to appropriate types of treatment, including symptom and mechanism specific interventions, are offered. 73 references and 3 tables