Children and Domestic Violence

Abstract

Several studies indicate that in England or Sweden a significant minority of children experience violence as a result of one parent engaging in violence against the other. Estimates vary depending on the age range of children in question, whether the informant is a child or a parent and which definition of violence is adopted. Bearing these kinds of factors in mind, several studies indicate that the figures range from 26 per cent of a nationwide sample of young adults in the United Kingdom who had experienced violence between their parents (Cawson, 2002) to about every tenth child (under 18) in Sweden. What do we know about these children’s life situation and needs? In this chapter we provide an overview of current research on children and domestic violence, its consequences for children’s health and well-being, and discuss key perspectives in the book when it comes to violence: domestic violence as intimate partner violence and the importance of recognizing the complexity of children’s exposure to domestic violence, as well as children’s own views.