Severe domestic violence and child maltreatment: considering child physical abuse, neglect, and failure to protect

Abstract

This study examined differences between families in which less or more severe domestic violence and child maltreatment were present compared to families in which only child maltreatment was known to be present. Both child physical abuse and neglect were examined using a child maltreatment reports involving parental perpetrators. The study found a higher percentage of neglect, specifically lack of supervision, and less child physical abuse in the more severe domestic violence compared to the child maltreatment only and less severe domestic violence groups. More mothers were found responsible for lack of supervision and fewer fathers were responsible for child physical abuse in the severe domestic violence group. Child protection workers also reported a higher level of concern for cases involving domestic violence. However, a closer examination of the qualitative characteristics of the domestic violence cases revealed that quantitative findings do not accurately present the whole story. Both mothers and fathers engaged in serious acts of physical abuse against their children. In addition, many mother were held responsible to ‘failure to protect’ their children from the father's domestic violence. Implications for child welfare practice and policy and future research directions are addressed.