"Domestic violence month highlights the importance of addressing the insidious yet often invisible pandemic of interpersonal violence. Whether discussing its prevalence, prosecution, or prevention, we recognize the need to protect direct victims as well as other household members who are traumatized, often both emotionally and physically: the children. Fortunately, research has identified sources of support for young victims and witnesses caught in the crossfire."
"Silke Meyer in "The Impact of Domestic Violence on Children" (2025) discusses both the challenges and opportunities to protect children living within abusive homes.[i] Considering the current scholarship surrounding the childhood experience of domestic violence, she recognizes children witnessing domestic violence as victim-survivors in their own right, who can benefit from strategies for safety, resilience, and recovery. Meyer recognizes that children are not just observers;"
Children who witness domestic violence experience direct harm and should be recognized as victim-survivors entitled to safety and recovery supports. Daily exposure to domestic violence can produce long-term emotional, social, and physical consequences for children and increase risk of intergenerational transmission of violence, including sibling or parent-directed aggression. Protective factors include peer relationships, extended family support networks, and the presence of independent parental figures who provide security and comfort. Child protection responses have improved, but ongoing reform is needed to ensure child-centered recovery supports and comprehensive prevention and resilience strategies.
Read at Psychology Today
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