Intersection of Child Abuse and Children's Exposure to Domestic Violence

• NCJ Number: 222278
• Journal: Trauma, Violence, & Abuse Volume: 9 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2008 Pages: 84-99
• Author(s): Todd I. Herrenkohl; Cynthia Sousa; Emiko A. Tajima; Roy C. Herrenkohl; Carrie A. Moylan
• Date Published: April 2008
• Length: 16 pages
• Grant Number(s): 1 RO1 HD049767-01A2
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD); Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR)
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This paper reviews research on the overlap of physical child abuse and domestic violence, the prediction of outcomes for children exposed to domestic violence, and the resilience of such children.

Abstract

There is considerable evidence that domestic violence and child abuse often co-occur; however, the rate of overlap or strength of the association varies, although the relationship remains consistent. Family factors associated with child abuse and exposure to domestic violence include poverty, parental unemployment, substance abuse, mental illness, crime, financial or parenting stress, poor health, and lower education. Emotional and psychological consequences for the children include isolation, shame, fear, guilt, and low self-esteem, as well as posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression. Behavioral consequences include eating disorders, teen pregnancy, school dropout, suicide attempts, delinquency, violence, and substance use. Relational effects include less secure attachments, poor conflict resolution skills, and vulnerability to further victimization or perpetration of violence. The few studies that have attempted to identify the unique and combined effects of child abuse and domestic-violence exposure have yielded mixed evidence, with studies showing that certain outcomes are more strongly linked with various risk factors. Several studies have shown that children exposed to both domestic violence and child abuse experience more severe personal consequences than children exposed to only one risk factor. Individual factors related to protection from and resilience toward the harmful effects of exposure to child abuse and domestic violence include high intelligence, internal locus of control, positive self image and self-esteem, a determination to be different from one's abusive parents, and a strong commitment to schools. Family-related factors include a positive perception of one's mother, at least one stable caregiver, sporadic rather than chronic child abuse by an otherwise supportive parent, and positive parenting experiences. 109 references