Children can be harmed by domestic abuse even when they are not witnessing or subjected to direct abuse themselves.  While all children and young people will be affected, the level of impact varies, even amongst those from the same family.  Impact can depend on a range of factors such as the frequency, severity and length of abuse and the ability of the non-abusive parent to provide parenting support in these very difficult situations. Research suggests that serial witnessing of abuse and exposure to multiple types of abuse is particularly harmful.

 

The impacts described below and in Appendix 1 are risks rather than the inevitable nature of harm. Key supportive adults, safe spaces and community support all play a significant role in reducing these risks.  Positive parenting by the non-abused parent (incredibly difficult when an abuser is undermining their partner) has been associated with decreased child trauma symptoms and increased child social competence and positive youth development[i]. Many children and young people recover well when they are in a safe and secure environment.

 

A wide range of effects on children have been identified[ii] including; feelings of fear, powerlessness, depression or sadness; impaired social relations; impact on the child’s identity, educational achievement, extended family relationships and parental relationships and anger, very often displayed as aggressive behaviour.

 

In terms of mental wellbeing[iii], experiencing domestic abuse as a child is associated with increased internalizing and externalizing difficulties, posttraumatic stress, difficulties in emotion regulation, and high separation distress.  There are some indications of gendered differences with boys more external in their responses and girls more likely to internalise their responses[iv] but evidence is mixed[v].

 

Children and young people’s physical health can also be impacted, for example, they are at increased risk of obesity and asthma and often present with bodily complaints such as stomach aches.

 

Appendix 1[vi] illustrates impact by developmental stage. Impact can of course be cumulative depending on the developmental impact on each stage of a child’s life.

 

[i] Ehrensaft, M. K., Knous-Westfall, H., & Cohen, P. (2017). Long-term influence of intimate partner violence and parenting practices on offspring trauma symptoms. Psychology of Violence, 7(2), 296–305.

[ii] McGee, Caroline. Childhood Experiences of Domestic Violence. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2000

[iii] Royal College of Psychiatrists (2017) Domestic violence and abuse – the impact on children and adolescents

[iv] Wood, s. and Sommers, M. (2011) ‘Consequences of intimate partner violence on child witnesses: a systematic review of the literature’ Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing V.24,4, P. 223-236

[v] Artz, S et al. (2014) A comprehensive review of the literature on the impact of exposure to intimate partner violence for children and youth. International Journal of Child, Youth and Family Studies

[vi] Howell, K., Barnesa, S., Miller, L., Graham-Bermannc, S. (2016) ‘Developmental Variations in the impact of intimate partner violence exposure during childhood’J Inj Violence Res, 8 (1):43-57