The intergenerational effects of intimate partner violence on child development

Abstract

This study investigates the intergenerational effects of intimate partner violence (IPV) on child development in Vietnam. We contribute to the growing literature by examining the relationship between IPV and internalizing and externalizing behavior problems in Vietnamese children. Employing an instrumental variable approach to address potential endogeneity concerns, we analyzed data from the National Survey on Domestic Violence Against Women. Two-stage least squares regressions show that a one standard deviation increase in the IPV index led to a 0.378-point increase in the child behavioral problem score. The effect was mainly driven by children living in rural areas and less wealthy households. We further suggest that witnessing IPV and the negative impacts of IPV on women’s health may be pathways through which IPV affects children’s development. These findings highlight IPV as a major risk factor for negative child development outcomes, thus informing public health initiatives and social service interventions.