Childhood exposure to domestic violence: can global estimates on the scale of exposure be obtained using existing measures?
Childhood exposure to domestic violence: can global estimates on the scale of exposure be obtained using existing measures?
Purpose: childhood exposure to domestic violence and abuse (DVA) can lead to major short- and long-term effects on the victim. Despite this, there is no accepted measure for children’s experiences, with most existing measures being validated only in high income countries and not in low- and middle- income countries. As a result, international statistics are not comparable. This paper seeks to critically appraise existing measures and discuss whether any are fit-for-purpose on a global scale.
Method: the COSMIN PROMs approach was followed to critically appraise and compare the appropriateness of measures. A comprehensive literature search was undertaken in seven journal databases for measures mentioned in formally peer-reviewed articles exploring childhood exposure to DVA.
Results: a literature search resulted in the identification of 10 measures and, following criteria to only keep original measures and remove modifications, four measures which have been validated cross-culturally are discussed in detail in line with the COSMIN PROMs criterion: The Child Exposure to Domestic Violence Scale, Children’s Perception of Interparental Conflict Scale, Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire and The Violence Exposure Scale for Children. Strengths and limitations of each are discussed, along with any validations undertaken not in the country of origin.
Conclusion: despite childhood exposure to DVA being an urgent research priority worldwide, the current measures to explore the extent of the issue are not validated cross-culturally, leading to concerns about comparisons across different population groups. The development and implementation of interventions to reduce the levels and effects of exposure relies heavily on cross-cultural comparisons, which may indicate different strategies are needed in different contexts. The lack of these validated comparisons is constraining advances, and the paper advocates for further efforts to be made in this regard.
childhood, children, cross-cultural comparisons, domestic violence and abuse, exposure, intimate partner violence, LMIC, measurement scales
Harris, Rebecca Jane
ccccfec7-8a18-4e81-bcfb-34f2b1204aea
Channon, Andrew Amos
5a60607c-6861-4960-a81d-504169d5880c
Morgan, Sara Afshar
8ad10b7e-2005-4e93-9948-164a69489350
22 May 2024
Harris, Rebecca Jane
ccccfec7-8a18-4e81-bcfb-34f2b1204aea
Channon, Andrew Amos
5a60607c-6861-4960-a81d-504169d5880c
Morgan, Sara Afshar
8ad10b7e-2005-4e93-9948-164a69489350
Harris, Rebecca Jane, Channon, Andrew Amos and Morgan, Sara Afshar
(2024)
Childhood exposure to domestic violence: can global estimates on the scale of exposure be obtained using existing measures?
Frontiers in Public Health, 12, [1181837].
(doi:10.3389/fpubh.2024.1181837).
Abstract
Purpose: childhood exposure to domestic violence and abuse (DVA) can lead to major short- and long-term effects on the victim. Despite this, there is no accepted measure for children’s experiences, with most existing measures being validated only in high income countries and not in low- and middle- income countries. As a result, international statistics are not comparable. This paper seeks to critically appraise existing measures and discuss whether any are fit-for-purpose on a global scale.
Method: the COSMIN PROMs approach was followed to critically appraise and compare the appropriateness of measures. A comprehensive literature search was undertaken in seven journal databases for measures mentioned in formally peer-reviewed articles exploring childhood exposure to DVA.
Results: a literature search resulted in the identification of 10 measures and, following criteria to only keep original measures and remove modifications, four measures which have been validated cross-culturally are discussed in detail in line with the COSMIN PROMs criterion: The Child Exposure to Domestic Violence Scale, Children’s Perception of Interparental Conflict Scale, Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire and The Violence Exposure Scale for Children. Strengths and limitations of each are discussed, along with any validations undertaken not in the country of origin.
Conclusion: despite childhood exposure to DVA being an urgent research priority worldwide, the current measures to explore the extent of the issue are not validated cross-culturally, leading to concerns about comparisons across different population groups. The development and implementation of interventions to reduce the levels and effects of exposure relies heavily on cross-cultural comparisons, which may indicate different strategies are needed in different contexts. The lack of these validated comparisons is constraining advances, and the paper advocates for further efforts to be made in this regard.
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Childhood exposure to domestic violence: can global estimates on the scale of exposure be obtained using existing measures?
- Accepted Manuscript
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Supplementary Material: Childhood exposure to domestic violence: can global estimates on the scale of exposure be obtained using existing measures? - Author Accepted Manuscript
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Accepted/In Press date: 2 May 2024
Published date: 22 May 2024
Additional Information:
Copyright © 2024 Harris, Channon and Morgan.
Keywords:
childhood, children, cross-cultural comparisons, domestic violence and abuse, exposure, intimate partner violence, LMIC, measurement scales
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 490173
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/490173
ISSN: 2296-2565
PURE UUID: 9a5818be-a56b-470d-8bcf-5393a2fcad1f
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Date deposited: 16 May 2024 16:39
Last modified: 30 Nov 2024 05:04
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Author:
Rebecca Jane Harris
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