The DOI matches its Crossref record; 74 of the 74 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
The Effects of Children's Exposure to Domestic Violence: A Meta-Analysis and Critique
Abstract
A wide range of children's developmental outcomes are compromised by exposure to domestic violence, including social, emotional, behavioral, cognitive, and general health functioning. However, there are relatively few empirical studies with adequate control of confounding variables and a sound theoretical basis. We identified 41 studies that provided relevant and adequate data for inclusion in a meta-analysis. Forty of these studies indicated that children's exposure to domestic violence was related to emotional and behavioral problems, translating to a small overall effect (Zr = .28). Age, sex, and type of outcome were not significant moderators, most likely due to considerable heterogeneity within each of these groups. Co-occurrence of child abuse increased the level of emotional and behavioral problems above and beyond exposure alone, based on 4 available studies. Future research needs are identified, including the need for large-scale longitudinal data and theoretically guided approaches that take into account relevant contextual factors.
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In the citing paper
“Whereas Wolfe et al. (2003) found that boys exposed to domestic violence experienced more externalizing symptoms than did girls, Kitzmann et al. (2003) found no such effects.”
From Exposure to domestic violence: A meta-analysis of child and adolescent outcomes (2008) · cites this paper as Wolfe et al. (2003)
In the citing paper
“Wolfe et al. (2003) included 41 studies that compared exposed children to nonexposed children and assessed behavioral and emotional outcomes of child adjustment using standardized measures.”
From Exposure to domestic violence: A meta-analysis of child and adolescent outcomes (2008) · cites this paper as Wolfe et al. (2003)
In the citing paper
“Similarly, Wolfe et al. (2003) reported an aggregate weighted mean correlation of z r = .19 for internal- izing symptoms, which translates to d = .38.”
From Exposure to domestic violence: A meta-analysis of child and adolescent outcomes (2008) · cites this paper as Wolfe et al. (2003)
In the citing paper
“Wolfe also reported z r = .21 for externalizing symptoms, which is equivalent to d = .42.”
From Exposure to domestic violence: A meta-analysis of child and adolescent outcomes (2008) · cites this paper as Wolfe et al. (2003)
In the citing paper
“Interestingly, in exploratory analyses by Wolfe that ex- cluded the four boy-only studies, difference in externalizing symptoms between boys and girls be- came nonsignificant.”
From Exposure to domestic violence: A meta-analysis of child and adolescent outcomes (2008) · cites this paper as Wolfe et al. (2003)
In the citing paper
“Thus the impacts of domestic violence are developmentally linked and negative child outcomes are, as Wolfe et al. (2003) noted, processes rather than once and for all absolutes.”
From A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ON THE IMPACT OF EXPOSURE TO INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH (2014) · cites this paper as Wolfe et al. (2003)
In the citing paper
“Wolfe et al. therefore state that the 'answer to whether or not children exposed to violence experience more difficulties than their peers emerged as an unequivocal yes' (p. 183).”
From A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ON THE IMPACT OF EXPOSURE TO INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH (2014) · cites this paper as Wolfe et al. (2003)
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Metadata
- Authors
- Wolfe, D. A., Crooks, C. V., Lee, V., McIntyre-Smith, A., & Jaffe, P. G.
- Affiliations
- Western University (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Wolfe, David A.
- Venue
- Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review
- Published
- 2003-09
- Volume
- 6
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 171-187
- ISSN
- 1096-4037 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-2827
- OpenAlex
- W2158108394
- Cited by
- 970
- References
- 70
- Citations by year
- 2026: 22 · 2025: 26 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 42 · 2021: 41 · 2020: 55 · 2019: 47 · 2018: 46 · 2017: 52 · 2016: 53 · 2015: 57 · 2014: 54 · 2013: 64 · 2012: 67
- FWCI
- 1.88
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Health › Intimate Partner and Family Violence
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Keywords
- domestic violence exposure, children, emotional problems, behavioral problems, child abuse, child development, confounding variables, moderators, effect size heterogeneity
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Child, Child Abuse, Child Behavior Disorders, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Male, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Domestic Violence, Crime Victims
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