Child Welfare

 

Overview of the Issue

How are Children Affected by Domestic Violence?

Adult domestic violence and child abuse/maltreatment often overlap within the same families.  As a result, child welfare workers are increasingly confronted with complex cases where both social issues are present.

• In an analysis of previous studies, Edleson notes that "the majority of studies indicate that from 30% to 60% of families where either child maltreatment or woman battering is identified, it is likely that both forms of abuse exist."1
• In a study of 41 families, 85% of the children were physically present, and 71% saw the physical assault of their mothers.2

Numerous studies provide evidence that children who are exposed to domestic violence at home may exhibit a variety of behavioral, emotional, cognitive, and long-term developmental problems.3 It is equally important to remember that every case is unique. Each child will experience exposure to adult domestic violence differently depending on a variety of factors that include:

• physical abuse of the child
• gender, age, and developmental stage
• child’s location when exposed to violence
• relationship with adults in the home
• relationship with extended family network and other caring adults
• personal resiliency

Importantly, studies also note that an appreciable percentage of children were not adversely affected in spite of having been exposed to violence in the homes. “We must be careful not to assume that exposure automatically leads to negative outcomes for children.”4

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1. Jeffrey L. Edleson, “The Overlap between Child Maltreatment and Woman Abuse,”in National Electronic Network on Violence Against Women: VAWnet Applied Research Forum; (Revised April 1999); assessed October 30, 2007.
2. Caroline McGee, Childhood Experiences of Domestic Violence  Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2000), 61-64.
3. Jeffrey L. Edleson, “In Brief: Problems Associated with Children’s Witnessing of Domestic Violence,” in National Electronic Network on Violence Against Women: VAWnet Applied Research Forum;(Revised April 1999); 4; assessed March 21, 2008
4. Ibid.