Life after Domestic Homicide: Examining the Psychosocial Implications on Children-Survivor

Abstract

Although the problem of domestic violence has received considerable attention, the study of domestic homicide is relatively recent and limited to precipitating conditions or the act itself. Most of the literature on familicide focuses on the personality characteristics of the victim and perpetrator or tries to answer the question, “How did the death happen?” Little notice, however, has been given to the children of the victim and offender who, in the midst of their loss and extreme suffering, inherit the fallout from the death of one parent, and incarceration of the other. The study therefore explored the psychosocial implications of parental absence on account of death and incarceration on surviving children. Qualitative data were obtained from 18 convicted and awaiting trial inmates for spousal homicide in three selected prisons in Lagos state, key informant interviews (KII) with four officials of Office of Public Defenders (OPD), three officials of Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and two child psychologists. Surviving children of domestic homicide suffer massive upheaval, psychiatric disturbance, ill health, financial difficulties, ostracism, scars from witnessing the domestic violence that preceded the murder and the propensity for future intrafamilial violence. The study concludes that direct and indirect exposure to domestic violence and homicide is negatively associated with children’s emotional, behavioural and developmental well-being. Hence, welfare of such children which should include therapy, relief of suffering, resolution of trauma symptoms, provision of supportive environment and clarification of cognitive or emotional distortions about the homicide should be incorporated in the prosecution process by relevant agencies.

Preventing Intimate Partner Homicide: The Long Road Ahead

“…It is also vital that future research seeks to better understand how diverse communities experience known risk factors. Communities of color, for example, may share the same risk factors as those in white communities, but the nuances of how they experience and understand these risk factors may be different (Aborisade et al, 2018; Bent-Goodley, 2013). In addition, it is important to identify any additional risk factors based on community norms and experiences (Bent-Goodley, 2013).…”

Building a Transdisciplinary Team to Prevent Intimate Partner Homicide: A Research Note

“…When a female parent is killed in an IPH, children may witness the homicide or find the body (Lewandowski et al, 2004). Children and youth who survive the IPH of a parent suffer multiple traumas and may experience adverse sequalae across psychological, social, physical, and academic domains (Aborisade et al, 2018, Alisic et al, 2017).…”