Children Who Witness Violence: What Services Do They Need To Heal?

Abstract

Children are witnesses to violence far too often in their daily lives. To elicit information on the needs of children and adolescents living in the United States who have witnessed violence in their homes, neighborhoods, or communities, we held focus groups with mothers who have survived interpersonal violence and whose family included child witnesses to violence (CWV), professionals who work with families affected by violence, and with adolescents who have witnessed violence. Based on four separate focus group discussions held in Massachusetts, involving a total of 45 participants, recommendations for screening, programming, and the development of healing interventions are offered to mental health professionals.

The Nature and Extent of Qualitative Research Conducted With Children About Their Experiences of Domestic Violence: Findings From a Meta-Synthesis

“…Developing rapport by meeting with children prior to interviews or focus groups to engage in activities or explain the interview process (Buckley et al, 2007; Callaghan et al, 2015; Peled, 1998; Phillips & Phillips, 2010) and the use of creative methods were also seen as beneficial to allowing children to participate fully. Methods employed to engage children in developmentally appropriate and sensitive conversations varied across and within studies and included visual timelines developed by children (Chanmugam, 2011), spatial emotional mapping of children’s houses (Callaghan et al, 2015), activity books (Humphreys et al, 2006; Morris et al, 2015), the use of story stems or children’s books (Thompson, 2011; Thornton, 2014), play (Thompson, 2011; Thornton, 2014), drawings (Pernebo, 2016a; Swanston et al,2014; Thompson, 2011; Thornton, 2014), and the use of preprepared posters, vignettes, letters, and relevant scenarios (Buckley et al, 2007; Richardson-Foster, Stanley, Miller, & Thomson, 2012; Willis et al, 2010). The use of play was noted as being particularly helpful in engaging younger children (Mullender et al, 1998).…”

A critical interpretive synthesis of the intersection of domestic violence with parental issues of mental health and substance misuse

“…(Willis et al, 2010, p. 556). These women, along with children, also emphasised the importance of programs and services specifically for children and young people that are based on respect and support (Willis et al, 2010), that uphold the resilience of children and respond to their needs as individuals (Templeton et al, 2009).…”

Beyond “Witnessing”: Children’s Experiences of Coercive Control in Domestic Violence and Abuse

“…In terms of prevalence, a U.K. study suggests about 29.5% of children less than 18 have been exposed to domestic violence during their lifetime and approximately 5.7% of children and young people will experience domestic violence in a year (Radford, Corral, Bradley, & Fisher, 2013), and research evidence suggests that its psychosocial impact can be severe. Children who grow up in families affected by domestic violence and abuse have a higher risk of mental health difficulties throughout their lives (Bogat, DeJonghe, Levendosky, Davidson, & von Eye, 2006;Meltzer, Doos, Vostanis, Ford, & Goodman, 2009;Mezey, Bacchus, Bewley, & White, 2005;Peltonen, Ellonen, Larsen, & Helweg-Larsen, 2010), increased risk of physical health difficulties (Bair-Merritt, Blackstone, & Feudtner, 2006), risk of educational drop out and other educational challenges (Byrne & Taylor, 2007;Koenen, Moffitt, Caspi, Taylor, & Purcell, 2003;Willis et al, 2010), risk of involvement in criminal behavior (T. Gilbert, Farrand, & Lankshear, 2012;R. Gilbert et al, 2009), and interpersonal difficulties in their own future intimate relationships and friendships (Black, Sussman, & Unger, 2010;Ehrensaft et al, 2003;Siegel, 2013).…”