Childhood experiences of domestic violence and its association with mental disorders and health risk behaviours.

BACKGROUND

Despite increasing awareness and understanding of children's victimisation through experiences of domestic violence (EDV), little attention has been given to the associated health outcomes.

AIM: Examine associations between four different forms of childhood EDV (physical violence, threats of harm, property damage and intimidation or control) and four mental disorders and six health risk behaviours.

METHOD: Data were drawn from the Australian Child Maltreatment Study. Associations were examined using survey-weighted logistic regression models. Estimates were calculated adjusting for each other form of EDV, as well as other types of child maltreatment and socio-economic factors. Each model was stratified for men and women.

RESULTS

All mental disorders and health risk behaviours were more common among those with any childhood EDV compared to those without. Intimidation or control and damage to property or pets independently predicted most mental disorders and health risk behaviours. The strongest association was found between intimidation or control and post-traumatic stress disorder (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.30, 95% CI 1.77-2.98) and generalised anxiety disorder (aOR 1.65, 95% CI 1.36-1.99), and damage to property or pets and severe alcohol use disorder (aOR 1.76, 95% CI 1.36-2.27).

CONCLUSIONS

Childhood EDV characterised by intimidation or control and property damage or harm to pets significantly increases the risk of mental disorders and health risk behaviours in adulthood. Urgent investment is needed in child-centred and trauma- and family-violence-informed interventions that support children's recovery and stronger legal protections to prevent children from being weaponised in post-separation coercive control.