Domestic Violence and Children: Analysis and Recommendations

Today, domestic violence1 is recognized as a serious societal problem in the United States. Yet, children in families in which such violence occurs have remained largely invisible as victims.2 Concern about children’s exposure to domestic violence3 is increasing, however, in light of a growing body of knowledge regarding the prevalence and effects of childhood exposure to domestic violence. Research suggests that between 3.3 million and 10 million children in the United States are exposed to domestic violence each year.4 And more than a decade of empirical studies indicates that this exposure can have significant negative effects on children’s behavioral, emotional, social, and cognitive development.5