Children's experiences and needs in situations of domestic violence: A secondary analysis of qualitative data from adult friends and family members of female survivors

Abstract

Estimates suggest that 15% of children in the United Kingdom have been exposed to at least one form of domestic violence (DV) during their childhood, with more than 3% having witnessed an incident during the past year. This exposure increases the risk of children suffering both short-term and long-term impacts, including effects on their behaviour, social development, physical and mental health, educational attainment and quality of life. In addition, children living in environments where there is DV are at higher risk of maltreatment. Adult relatives and friends of the family often observe the experiences of children in situations of DV, and have the potential to shed light in a way that children and survivors may struggle to articulate, or be reluctant to acknowledge or disclose. Such accounts are largely absent from existing research, and yet bring a perspective which can broaden our understanding of the impact that DV has on children. This paper reports a secondary analysis of qualitative data collected during 21 in-depth interviews with people across the United Kingdom who were a friend or family member of a woman experiencing DV. An inductive thematic analysis was undertaken and the themes generated were as follows: 'the context of DV: a chaotic and unpredictable home life'; 'the roles children assume within households where there is DV including: witness of, victim of and conduit of violence and abuse',; 'the impacts of DV on children'; and 'children's coping and resilience'. The implications of these findings are discussed using a basic needs model lens.

‘I Think it Just Made Everything Very Much More Intense’: A Qualitative Secondary Analysis Exploring The Role Of Friends and Family Providing Support to Survivors of Domestic Abuse During The COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Additionally, the analysis explored the effect on informal supporters’ ability to offer help and to cope themselves. A thematic analysis (TA) was undertaken (Braun & Clarke, 2006 ); an approach which has been used to good effect for secondary study of primary research relating to DA (D'Amore et al, 2021 ; Gregory et al, 2020 ; Hashimoto et al, 2021 ). More specifically, since the epistemology of the research was informed by critical realism, a perspective which indicates that multiple ‘truths’ can exist and be known, a reflexive form of TA was employed (Braun & Clarke, 2020 ; King & Horrocks, 2010 ).…”

Exploring the knowledge translation of domestic violence research: A literature review

“…The theory would suggest that this area of research has particular nuances specific to the issue of domestic violence. These could include: acceptance of the problem as gendered (Yates, 2020); the contested definition of DV; the recognition of the harm caused by children's exposure (Gregory, Arai, MacMillan, Howarth, & Shaw, 2020); and the framing of the problem. These nuances have impacts on the ability to collaborate with relevant target audiences and ensure the development of appropriate key messages.…”

Interparental violence: Professionals’ perspectives in the child protection system

“…In the context of child protection services, professionals' appropriate consideration of the child's perspective regarding the impact that EIV has on him/her, as well as their awareness of these child-level processes, are paramount to an adequate evaluation of the child's risk and/or danger situation and to an optimal decision-making process regarding the intervention strategies to be implemented in order to effectively protect the child (Gregory et al, 2020;MacDonald, 2017;Pranzo, 2013). Professionals in the CPS are responsible for making crucial decisions that have a substantial impact on children and their families (Benbenishty et al, 2015).…”