Impact of Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence on Children in the Home

2014 FACT Issue Brief – Impact of Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence on Children in the Home (PDF)

When intimate partner violence (IPV) is perpetrated in a child’s home, that child will be affected. The type or degree of influence depends upon a variety of contextual and protective factors. In some cases, the long-term impact can be minimal. However, for far too many children, exposure to IPV can have varied and far-reaching consequences.

No single child will have the same experience, not even those children in the same home witnessing the same event. The impact can depend upon the child’s age, gender, community involvement, relationship with the perpetrator and victim, and internal characteristics.

This Issue Brief provides an overview of research findings about the impact of intimate partner violence on children in the home. Information is presented to help advocates, professionals, researchers and community members identify and address the needs of these children. However, understanding the impact of intimate partner violence is just the first step. Once a child has been asked to share his or her experience, it becomes a matter of necessity to have a strategy in place to help that child.

A one page summary of this brief can be downloaded here.

Additional resources related to this brief are found below.

Training Resources

Assessment Tools

Bedford Domestic Violence Services Trauma Assessment Tool

Additional Resources

Future Without Violence – Child Witness to Domestic Violence Programs Evaluated