Domestic abuse and the impact on young children: A UK perspective

Survivors and victims of domestic abuse are frequently fearful of revealing what is happening to them. Consequently, the increasingly high numbers reported to the police are likely to be a significant underestimation. This paper explores the impact of domestic abuse on young children. It is based on the scrutiny of a wide range of research, both national and international, and takes a developmental perspective. The paper initially explores how exposure to domestic abuse can affect the unborn child. The focus then turns to infants and discusses how domestic abuse can have a detrimental affect on the child’s health, education, and emotional and behavioural development before examining the possible long-term consequences. Finally, the implications for policy and practice are discussed.