Physical Health Outcomes of Childhood Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence: A Systematic Review
Abstract
Background Children exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) are at increased risk for adverse mental and behavioral health sequelae, as has been documented by both systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Studies addressing the physical health impact of childhood IPV exposure, however, have not been summarized in a manner that might facilitate additional hypothesis-driven research and accelerate the development of targeted interventions. Methods To identify a comprehensive set of articles examining the association between childhood IPV exposure and physical health, we searched online bibliographic databases including Medline, CINAHL, PsychInfo, and Sociological Abstracts using the keywords "domestic" or "intimate partner violence" and "infant," "child," or "pediatric." From >2000 articles retrieved in the initial search, we used online abstract and bibliographic information to identify 94 articles potentially meeting the inclusion criteria of studies that (1) examined a postnatal physical health outcome related to IPV exposure and (2) had a contemporaneous control group. Thorough review of these 94 published studies yielded 22 that met these inclusion criteria. The data then were abstracted independently by 2 of the authors, and differences were settled with the assistance of a third author. Results Childhood exposure to IPV increases the likelihood of risk-taking behaviors during adolescence and adulthood and is likely associated with underimmunization. Minimal data and stud…
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
A number of methodological problems remain in research on children's exposure to domestic violence.
“a number of methodological problems remain”
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 Bair-Merritt et al., 2006
Research has limited generalizability due to oversampling from shelter populations.
“Limited generalizability due to oversampling from shelter populations”
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 Bair-Merritt et al., 2006
There is a lack of clarity concerning the definition of 'exposure' to domestic violence.
“Lack of clarity concerning the definition of 'exposure' to domestic violence”
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 Bair-Merritt et al., 2006
Research has insufficient attention to the continuum of exposure and variations in children's involvement.
“Insufficient attention to the continuum of exposure and variations in children's involvement”
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 Bair-Merritt et al., 2006
Research has overreliance on self-reporting, and mother-reported exposure and outcomes, instead of multiple informants.
“Overreliance on self-reporting, and mother-reported exposure and outcomes, instead of multiple informants”
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 Bair-Merritt et al., 2006
Research has limited attention to confounding variables.
“Limited attention to confounding variables”
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 Bair-Merritt et al., 2006
Research has small sample sizes and lack of comparison groups.
“Small sample sizes and lack of comparison groups”
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 Bair-Merritt et al., 2006
Cites
Felitti, V. J., Anda, R. F., Nordenberg, D., Williamson, D. F., Spitz, A. M., Edwards, V., Koss, M. P., & Marks, J. S. (1998) · American Journal of Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/s0749-3797(98)00017-8 · Cited by 18,943 · see citing works
Risky families: Family social environments and the mental and physical health of offspring
Repetti, R. L., Taylor, S. E., & Seeman, T. E. (2002) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.128.2.330 · Cited by 2,884 · see citing works
Child witnesses to domestic violence: A meta-analytic review
Kitzmann, K. M., Gaylord, N. K., Holt, A. R., & Kenny, E. D. (2003) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.71.2.339 · Cited by 1,524 · see citing works
The effects of children's exposure to domestic violence: A meta-analysis and critique
Wolfe, D. A., Crooks, C. V., Lee, V., McIntyre-Smith, A., & Jaffe, P. G. (2003) · Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review · doi:10.1023/a:1024910416164 · Cited by 970 · see citing works
Children's witnessing of adult domestic violence
EDLESON, J. L. (1999) · Journal of Interpersonal Violence · doi:10.1177/088626099014008004 · Cited by 876 · see citing works
Adverse childhood experiences and personal alcohol abuse as an adult
Dube, S. R., Anda, R. F., Felitti, V. J., Edwards, V. J., & Croft, J. B. (2002) · Addictive Behaviors · doi:10.1016/s0306-4603(01)00204-0 · Cited by 804 · see citing works
Hillis, S. D., Anda, R. F., Dube, S. R., Felitti, V. J., Marchbanks, P. A., & Marks, J. S. (2004) · Pediatrics · doi:10.1542/peds.113.2.320 · Cited by 671 · see citing works
FELITTI, V. J. (1993) · Southern Medical Journal · doi:10.1097/00007611-199307000-00002 · Cited by 219 · see citing works
Ritter, J., Stewart, M., Bernet, C., Coe, M., & Brown, S. A. (2002) · Journal of Traumatic Stress · doi:10.1023/a:1014803907234 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Burden and consequences of child maltreatment in high-income countries
Gilbert, R., Widom, C. S., Browne, K., Fergusson, D., Webb, E., & Janson, S. (2009) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(08)61706-7 · Cited by 3,876 · see citing works
Adverse Childhood Experiences and Child Health in Early Adolescence
Flaherty, E. G., Thompson, R., Dubowitz, H., Harvey, E. M., English, D. J., Proctor, L. J., & Runyan, D. K. (2013) · JAMA Pediatrics · doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.22 · Cited by 353 · see citing works
Beyond “Witnessing”: Children’s Experiences of Coercive Control in Domestic Violence and Abuse
Callaghan, J. E. M., Alexander, J. H., Sixsmith, J., & Fellin, L. C. (2018) · Journal of Interpersonal Violence · doi:10.1177/0886260515618946 · Cited by 279 · see citing works
Yount, K. M., DiGirolamo, A. M., & Ramakrishnan, U. (2011) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.02.042 · Cited by 224 · see citing works
Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence on Child Witnesses: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Wood, S. L., & Sommers, M. S. (2011) · Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing · doi:10.1111/j.1744-6171.2011.00302.x · Cited by 205 · see citing works
Artz, S., Jackson, M. A., Rossiter, K. R., Nijdam-Jones, A., Géczy, I., & Porteous, S. (2014) · International Journal of Child Youth and Family Studies · doi:10.18357/ijcyfs54201413274 · Cited by 142 · see citing works
“Insufficient attention to the continuum of exposure and variations in children’s involvement (Bair-Merritt et al., 2006; Chan & Yeung, 2009; Evans et al., 2008; Fowler & Chanmugam, 2007; Gewirtz & Edleson, 2007; Holt et al., 2008; Kitzmann et al., 2003; Martin, 2002; Mohr et al., 2000; Sternberg, Lamb, et al., 2006; W…”
BackgroundForke, C. M., Catallozzi, M., Localio, A. R., Grisso, J. A., Wiebe, D. J., & Fein, J. A. (2019) · Preventive Medicine Reports · doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2019.100942 · Cited by 63 · see citing works
Behavioral health needs and service use among those who've aged-out of foster care
Brown, A., Courtney, M. E., & Curtis McMillen, J. (2015) · Children and Youth Services Review · doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2015.09.020 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
Common patterns of violence experiences and depression and anxiety among adolescents
Slopen, N., Fitzmaurice, G. M., Williams, D. R., & Gilman, S. E. (2012) · Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology · doi:10.1007/s00127-011-0466-5 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
Garg, A., & Dworkin, P. H. (2011) · Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics · doi:10.1097/dbp.0b013e3182196726 · Cited by 46 · see citing works
Callaghan, J. E. M., Alexander, J. H., & Fellin, L. C. (2016) · Subjectivity · doi:10.1057/s41286-016-0011-9 · Cited by 46 · see citing works
Galántai, J., Ligeti, A. S., & Wirth, J. (2019) · Journal of Family Violence · doi:10.1007/s10896-019-00066-y · Cited by 38 · see citing works
Kieselbach, B., Kimber, M., MacMillan, H. L., & Perneger, T. (2022) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-051140 · Cited by 36 · see citing works
A Scoping Review of Intimate Partner Violence Research in Canada
Wathen, C. N., MacGregor, J. C. D., Burd, C., Naeemzadah, N., Ogunpitan, Y. A., & Canie, J. (2025) · Trauma, Violence, & Abuse · doi:10.1177/15248380241275979 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Support by trained mentor mothers for abused women: a promising intervention in primary care
Prosman, G.-J., Lo Fo Wong, S. H., & Lagro-Janssen, A. L. (2014) · Family Practice · doi:10.1093/fampra/cmt058 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Addressing Intimate Partner Violence and Child Maltreatment: Challenges and Opportunities
Spearman, K. J., Alhusen, J. L., Ho, G. W. K., Smith, K. F., & Campbell, J. C. (2022) · Child Maltreatment · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-82479-2_16 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
- Authors
- Bair-Merritt, M. H., Blackstone, M., & Feudtner, C.
- Affiliations
- Pediatric Generalist Research Group, Division of General Pediatrics
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (US)
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics (US)
- ORCID
- Feudtner, Chris
- Venue
- Pediatrics
- Publisher
- American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
- Published
- 2006-02-01
- Volume
- 117
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- e278-e290
- ISSN
- 0031-4005 (ISSN-L)
- 1098-4275
- OpenAlex
- W2148753207
- Cited by
- 278
- References
- 9
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 14
- FWCI
- 2.24
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- PEDIATRICS (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Health › Intimate Partner and Family Violence
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
- Social Sciences › Safety Research › Child Welfare and Adoption
- Keywords
- intimate partner violence, children's exposure, physical health, child health, adolescent risk behavior, underimmunization, breastfeeding, weight gain, health care utilization, domestic violence
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Breast Feeding, Child, Child Welfare, Failure to Thrive, Female, Health Services, Health Status, Humans, Infant, Risk-Taking, Spouse Abuse
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
