Domestic Violence: Summary of Recommendations.

 Considering the limitations of existing surveys, direct investigation offers the best hope for defining, substantiating, and understanding children’s exposure to domestic violence and assessing risks and impacts over time. However, as echoed elsewhere, future progress is predicated on standard definitions and data collection, with broader and more inclusive definitions of violence, assessments of risks and history, short- and long-term impacts, and connections to services and follow-up. Population-based surveillance systems that have standard protocols and take a developmental and cultural approach are critical. Too much of what is known comes from children in shelters, thus limiting our ability to generalize. Future research directions should include building a rigorous scientific capacity in partnership with strategic sentinels across municipalities. Researchers cannot adequately assess the impact of violence, including domestic violence, obtain quality information, or develop research-based interventions without building capacity through partnerships. 

Conceptual models are needed that are appropriate for different developmental stages and that consider differences in effects by gender and culture. Much more attention needs to be given to preschool children. Another critical time to intervene is during adolescence, when behaviors such as peer aggression and dating violence may surface in response to domestic violence, and when aggressive behavior can develop into a pattern of violent behavior as adults. The inequity in access to services for troubled boys and girls must also be addressed. More research is also needed on neuro-physiological effects of domestic violence, such as immune system effects, stress, and depression. In addition to studying the effects of domestic violence on children, research needs to focus on the effects of domestic violence on family functioning, particularly as it relates to the well-being of children. Family organization and structure, family interaction, parenting behaviors, coping styles, and practices, involving both the victims and the perpetrators of domestic violence, need to be considered. It is also important to assess the long-term economic and psychological impact on the father-child relationship and the child’s perception of the father. Another important research issue is the interface of domestic violence with other systems, such as the healthcare system, mental health system, educational system, justice system, and community and societal systems. A systematic program of research could help accelerate progress in this field by calling attention to the need for more research to better understand, respond more effectively, and ultimately to prevent children’s exposure to domestic violence. Such research should include multiple competencies and address multiple problems, should examine the implications of culture/ethnicity on measurement, and should be multidisciplinary.