Effects of Domestic Violence on Children's Behavior Problems and Depression

The Children's Depression Inventory, Child Behavior Checklist, and Youth Self-Report were completed by mothers, fathers, and their 8- to 12-year-old children to assess the effects of various types of domestic violence on children's behavior problems and depression. One hundred and ten Israeli children from lower-class families were identified through social service records. Thirty-three of the children had been physically abused by their parents within the last 6 months, 16 had witnessed spouse abuse, 30 had been both victims and witnesses of domestic violence, and 31 had experienced no known domestic violence. Overall, domestic violence had effects on child development that varied in magnitude and nature depending on the type of domestic violence and who reported the information about the child's adjustment.