Research Proposal

Study Title:
Principal Investigator:

Solape Bisayo Adewumi

Introduction
Background to the study
When we talk about the impact of domestic violence on childrens development, we are
considering the effects on children of living in a home where spousal abuse is occurring.
Childhood is regarded as a period of special protection and rights in western culture.
Childrens development is expected to unfold within a secure and nurturing environment.
Where the environment is infected by violence and fear, all the normal tasks of growing up
are likely to be adversely affected. For example, exposure to violence can result in
regressive symptoms such as increased bedwetting, delayed language development and
more anxiety over separation from parents (Osofsky, 1995, cited in Margolin & Gordis,
2000). These symptoms may affect childrens ability to learn to get along with other children
or to concentrate in school.
Domestic violence can have a range of effects from decreased educational performance and
behavioural problems towards teachers and other students, to internalised and self-destructive
behaviour (Johnson et al., 2002; Kitzmann et al., 2003; Laing, 2000; Tomison, 2000)
Laing (2000) states that children and young people who live with domestic violence,
consistently display a range of behavioural and emotional problems when compared to
children who do not live with domestic violence. These include aggression, acting out,
antisocial type behaviour, depression and / or anxiety (Humphreys, 2007; Johnson et al.,
2002; Laing, 2000; Tomison, 2000)
Longer-term implications of exposure to domestic violence can be profound. Children learn
from the behaviours displayed at home, with exposure to domestic violence being a strong
indicator of violence in adolescence and adulthood. Witnessing domestic violence teaches
children that violence is an acceptable means of conflict resolution and is part of family
relationships (Osofsky, 1995). Furthermore, since perpetrators often avoid punishment or
consequences, children may interpret violence as an acceptable way to control or manipulate
people (Osofsky, 1995). In addition, witnessing domestic violence as a child increases the
likelihood that the child will form adult relationships that are violent. Boys who observe a
male parent / caregiver perpetrating domestic violence have an increased likelihood of
becoming perpetrators themselves in adulthood.

Research Question

Aims of the Study

Significance of the Study

The terminology children affected by domestic violence is used to overcome the
problematic divisions sometimes made between children witnessing domestic violence,
children exposed to domestic violence, children directly abused in the context of domestic
violence, children living with domestic violence and children drawn into domestic
violence. Children affected by domestic violence covers all these overlapping groups,
including those where healing from trauma and disruption in the aftermath of domestic
violence is an issue
This discussion is framed by a concern, fuelled by growing evidence, that the statutory child
protection system in a number of Australian jurisdictions is in danger of being overwhelmed
by referrals of children affected by domestic violence
The Personal Safety Survey, Australia found that 57% of the women who experienced
violence by a previous partner had children in their care at some time during the relationship
(p. 40)
Over a third of women who experienced violence by a previous partner (34%) said that their
children had witnessed the violence (p. 40).
A national survey of 5000 Australian young people (aged twelve to twenty) found that 23%
of participants had witnessed physical domestic violence against their mothers (Indermaur
2001, p. 2).
Childrens exposure to domestic violence may seriously affect their wellbeing. Holt, Buckley
and Whelans (2008) comprehensive review of the literature showed that exposure to
domestic violence: places children at greater risk of directly experiencing physical and
sexual abuse by the violent partner (p. 800) impacts negatively on the relationship between
children and both their parents (p. 801) may jeopardise childrens abilities and key
developmental processes, such as toilet training and healthy sleep patterns in infants and a
healthy sense of self in older children (p. 802) may be an indicator of later adolescent male
abusive behaviour, as well as female and male adolescent victimisation in intimate
relationships (p. 803). In a recent Clearinghouse paper on adolescent violence against their

parents, a mother and childs experience of family violence was reported as being the most
significant determinant of adolescent violence in the home and towards mothers particularly
(Howard 2011, p. 6). An earlier Clearinghouse paper on the attachment between mothers
and their infants emphasised that domestic violence often leads to insecurity in this key
relationship (Buchanan 2008). A baby may show signs of insecure attachment to her primary
caregiver through displaying withdrawal or little emotion. Alternatively, an infant may seek
comfort but not be easily consoled by her mother or she may be erratic in her attachments.

Literature Review
Children are living in most homes where there is domestic violence. Research on children
who witness family violence is a special case of counting the hard-to-count and measuring
the hard-to measure (Fantuzzo, Boruch, Beriana, Atkins & Marcus, 1997; p.121), so it is
impossible to be definitive about the number of families affected. However, several studies
have found that 85-90% of the time when a violent incident took place in a domestic
situation, children were present and children were also abused during the violent incident in
about 50% of those cases (Queensland Domestic Taskforce, 1998; Cleaver et al, 1999, cited
in Fleischer, 2000).

Research Design

Sampling

Data Collection Methods

Data Analysis
Ethical considerations

Limitations of the Study

APPENDICES

Domestic violence and its impact on childrens development, 2002, paper

presented at the Fourth Domestic Violence Forum,Old Bidura House Ballroom,
Glebe.
Holt, S, Buckley, H & Whelan, S 2008, The impact of exposure to domestic
violence on children and young people: a review of the literature, Child Abuse &
Neglect, vol. 32, no. 797-810.
Hornor, G. (2005). Domestic violence and children, Journal of Paediatric Health
Care, 19(4): 206212

Howard J 2011, Adolescent violence in the home the missing link in family
violence prevention and response, Stakeholder Paper 11, Australian Domestic
and Family Violence Clearinghouse, Sydney
Humphreys, C. (2007). Domestic violence and child protection: Challenging
directions for practice. Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse,
Issues Paper 13, May, The University of New South Wales.
Indermaur D 2001, Young Australians and domestic violence, Trends & Issues in
Crime and Criminal Justice, no. 195, Australian Institute of Criminology, Canberra
Sety M 2011, The impact of domestic violence on children: a literature review,
Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse and Benevolent Society,
NSW, Sydney
Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006, Personal safety survey, Australia, 2005,
Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra
Barbeau, E 2009, Best practices for the children who witness abuse program, BC
Yukon Society of Transition Houses, Vancouver, Canada