Growing up with domestic abuse: retrospective accounts

Taylor, Julie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4113-3857 , Bates, Elizabeth ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8694-8078 , Wright, David and Martin, Kirsty (2023) Growing up with domestic abuse: retrospective accounts. In: Taylor, Julie and Bates, Elizabeth, (eds.) Children and adolescent’s experiences of violence and abuse at home: current theory, research and practitioner insights. Routledge, London, UK, pp. 40-54. Full text not available from this repository.

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Abstract

This chapter draws upon data from adults in the United Kingdom who lived in homes where there was domestic abuse when they were children. Much of what we know about childhood experiences of domestic abuse comes from mothers or professionals working with children. In the last decade a number of creative research projects have been undertaken to work with the children themselves. The children involved in these projects have often become known to services as a result of mothers leaving the abusive home and seeking support. Such studies provide invaluable insight and give the children a voice. However, many children who have grown up in a home where there is violence and abuse are never brought to the attention of services and so their voices remain unheard. The data drawn upon for this chapter comes from a retrospective study where adults were invited to reflect on their childhood experiences and their perception of how these experiences have influenced their adult lives. The experiences shared by our participants show that growing up in homes where there is domestic abuse has a long-lasting impact on their lives. The participants themselves, regardless of gender identification, overwhelmingly reported long-lasting negative outcomes, with respect to their future relationships (intimate or otherwise) and their mental health and wellbeing. A small number of participants stated that their negative childhood experiences had shaped them positively, giving them a determination to be better parents or partners themselves. Perhaps the most encouraging finding relates to school and their potential to identify, support and provide a haven for children.

Item Type:	Book Section
Publisher:	Routledge
ISBN:	9781003124634
Departments:	Institute of Health > Psychology and Psychological Therapies
Additional Information:	Chapter 3 within book. Dr Elizabeth A. Bates is a Principal Lecturer in Psychology and Psychological Therapies at the University of Cumbria, UK. Dr Julie C. Taylor is Head of Learning, Teaching and Student Experience for the Institute of Health at the University of Cumbria. David Wright is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology and Counselling, at the University of Cumbria. Kirsty Martin is a Lecturer in Psychology and Health and Social Care at the University of Cumbria.
Depositing User:	Anna Lupton
Date Deposited:	14 Nov 2023 14:29
Last Modified:	13 Jan 2024 15:47
URI:	https://insight.cumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/7425