A new study from the national charity CAADA has found that two thirds of children exposed to domestic abuse had experienced direct child abuse, in addition to witnessing the abuse of a parent. Despite this, only half (54%) of the children exposed to domestic abuse were known to Children’s Social Care.
In a sample of 877 children receiving support from four specialist domestic abuse services, the charity found a clear link between domestic abuse between adults and direct harm to children.
Around 62% of children in the research had experienced direct abuse, for example emotional abuse, physical abuse and / or neglect, in addition to witnessing the abuse of a parent. In addition, 28% experienced direct physical abuse. In the majority of incidences, the child abuse was perpetrated by the same person responsible for abusing the adult victim: usually the child’s father or mother’s male partner.
The research, outlined in a new policy report entitled ‘In plain sight: effective help for children exposed to domestic abuse’, also found that:
Children are suffering multiple physical and mental health consequences as a result of witnessing domestic abuse: 52% of the children had behavioural problems, 39% had difficulties adjusting to school and 60% felt responsible for what was happening at home.
A quarter of the children displayed abusive behaviour: this usually occurred once their exposure to adult domestic abuse had stopped. This behaviour was frequently directed towards their mother, sibling or friend, and rarely towards the main perpetrator of domestic abuse.
Although only half the children were previously known to children’s social care, 80% of the children were known to at least one public agency. They were therefore ‘in plain sight’ and able to be identified.
Children’s health and wellbeing outcomes significantly improved after support from specialist children’s domestic abuse services, and abusive behaviour also dropped from 25% to 7%.
Children were less likely to experience direct harm if the parental domestic abuse had ended.
CAADA estimates that 130,000 children are at high risk of serious harm or death from domestic abuse. Hundreds of thousands more are exposed to domestic abuse at lower risk levels.
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