Study by DOVE in The Lancet Global Health assesses the impact of domestic violence on parenting

A recent study by the DOVE Research Centre published in The Lancet Global Health examines the relationship between domestic violence and maternal child-rearing practices. The research was based on data from the 2015 Pelotas Birth Cohort and involved the analysis of information collected from over 3,500 pairs of mothers and children.

The study examined data on emotional, physical and sexual victimisation by intimate partners through maternal reports. In addition, parental practices were evaluated through direct observations of mother-child interactions and maternal interviews.

The results highlight that emotional, physical and sexual violence suffered by mothers has a negative impact on the maternal relationship with their children. According to the data, women who are victims of domestic violence tend to adopt coercive behaviours in disciplining their children and follow less consistent parenting practices. In other words, they struggle to provide a stable and predictable environment for their children.

Carolina Coll, the lead author of the study, emphasises the importance of these findings. According to her, the results reinforce the need for interventions to prevent domestic violence, as well as guidance and support programmes for mothers, assisting them in establishing an environment that meets the emotional and health needs of children from the early years of child development.

If you want to gain further knowledge about the study, you can either listen to the podcast created by The Lancet Global Health on the study or access the article at the following link: https://thelancetglobalhealth.buzzsprout.com/1358155/13410037-carolina-coll-and-joe-murray-on-intimate-partner-violence-and-maternal-parenting.