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Cited by 1,489Intimate Partner and Family ViolenceChild Abuse and TraumaChild Welfare and Adoption

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 142 of the 142 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

The impact of exposure to domestic violence on children and young people: A review of the literature

Holt, Stephanie, Buckley, Helen, Whelan, Sadhbh·2008·Child Abuse & Neglect
DOI 10.1016/j.chiabu.2008.02.004
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Abstract

Objective This article reviews the literature concerning the impact of exposure to domestic violence on the health and developmental well-being of children and young people. Impact is explored across four separate yet inter-related domains (domestic violence exposure and child abuse; impact on parental capacity; impact on child and adolescent development; and exposure to additional adversities), with potential outcomes and key messages concerning best practice responses to children's needs highlighted.Method A comprehensive search of identified databases was conducted within an 11-year framework (1995-2006). This yielded a vast literature which was selectively organized and analyzed according to the four domains identified above.Results This review finds that children and adolescents living with domestic violence are at increased risk of experiencing emotional, physical and sexual abuse, of developing emotional and behavioral problems and of increased exposure to the presence of other adversities in their lives. It also highlights a range of protective factors that can mitigate against this impact, in particular a strong relationship with and attachment to a caring adult, usually the mother.Conclusion Children and young people may be significantly affected by living with domestic violence, and impact can endure even after measures have been taken to secure their safety. It also concludes that there is rarely a direct causal pathway leading to a particular outcome and that children are active in constructing their own social world. Implications for interventions suggest that timely, appropriate and individually tailored responses need to build on the resilient blocks in the child's life.Practice implications This study illustrate the links between exposure to domestic violence, various forms of child abuse and other related adversities, concluding that such exposure may have a differential yet potentially deleterious impact for children and young people. From a resilient perspective this review also highlights range of protective factors that influence the extent of the impact of exposure and the subsequent outcomes for the child. This review advocates for a holistic and child-centered approach to service delivery, derived from an informed assessment, designed to capture a picture of the individual child's experience, and responsive to their individual needs.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.chiabu.2008.02.004

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Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. Croke, 1999, Social workers and domestic violence: Does the rhetoric reflect the complex reality?, Irish Social Worker, 17, 22
  2. Hotton, 2001, Spousal violence after marital separation, Juristat, 21, 1
  3. Kelly, 1996, When women protection is the best kind of child protection: Children, domestic violence and child abuse, Administration, 44, 118
  4. Saunders, 2003

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Metadata

Authors
Holt, S., Buckley, H., & Whelan, S.
Affiliations
Trinity College Dublin (IE)
Corresponding author
Holt, Stephanie
ORCID
Holt, Stephanie
Venue
Child Abuse & Neglect
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2008-08
Volume
32
Issue
8
Pages
797-810
ISSN
0145-2134 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.chiabu.2008.02.004
OpenAlex
W2006929969
Cited by
1,489
References
141
Citations by year
2026: 67 · 2025: 79 · 2024: 94 · 2023: 73 · 2022: 113 · 2021: 105 · 2020: 79 · 2019: 130 · 2018: 110 · 2017: 101 · 2016: 103 · 2015: 102 · 2014: 83 · 2013: 87 · 2012: 66
FWCI
33.77
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • Child Abuse & Neglect (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Health Research Board
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Health › Intimate Partner and Family Violence
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Child Welfare and Adoption
Keywords
domestic violence exposure, children exposed to domestic violence, child abuse, child development, adolescent development, parenting capacity, emotional and behavioral problems, protective factors, resilience, child-centered intervention, child welfare services
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Child, Child Abuse, Child Behavior Disorders, Child Development, Family Characteristics, Female, Health Status, Humans, Life Change Events, Male, Socioeconomic Factors, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Violence, Domestic Violence, Crime Victims, Adolescent Development, Resilience, Psychological

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