B3352 - Protective factors in the association between exposure to domestic violence in childhood and internalising symptoms - 12/08/2019

B number: 
B3352
Principal applicant name: 
Shantini Paranjothy | Cardiff University (United Kingdom)
Co-applicants: 
Miss Bethan Carter
Title of project: 
Protective factors in the association between exposure to domestic violence in childhood and internalising symptoms
Proposal summary: 

Childhood exposure to domestic violence is associated with long-term impairment such as increased risk of mental health illness, aggression, anti-social behaviour and poorer academic attainment, yet some children function well despite this adversity. As part of my doctoral thesis, I propose to use ALSPAC to identify the key factors which protect children and adolescents’ mental health following exposure to domestic violence. I will also examine whether or not the protective effect of these factors vary by socio-demographic and contextual factors (i.e. age, gender, socio-economic status, and severity/duration of domestic violence).

Resilience is the ability to bounce back and successfully adapt to challenging circumstances. It is not a personality trait and is amenable to change. Individual, family, and community protective factors that promote resilience in the face of childhood adversity have been identified within the literature . Studies that have explored protective factors within the contexts of domestic violence exposure and mental health outcomes have tended to explore single factors on their own, have not considered the complexity of the issue or contribution of other adversities, and have not necessarily considered the severity of the violence witnessed. Additionally, the vast majority of all research in the field has been conducted in the USA where attitudes towards violence and outcomes for both parents and children may differ to the UK. Therefore, more evidence is needed to identify how these factors protect against mental disorders in children who have been exposed to domestic violence. This research will provide an understanding of protective factors and their effects in different contexts will provide better information for the development of targeted interventions aimed at improving the mental health of children exposed to domestic violence. Furthermore, identifying whether these protective factors only buffer against poor mental health under certain conditions will help us determine whether such interventions should be tailored to children and young people based on their characteristics and trauma exposure.

Alongside this, we would like to identify whether these factors (if any), protecting children and adolescents from internalising symptoms, are specific to the contexts of domestic violence exposure and mental health or whether they may be protective against other behavioural problems and in the context of exposure to other adverse childhood experiences such as parental alcohol/substance abuse, parental mental health problems, direct child abuse and neglect. This will also inform the potential scope of future interventions.

Impact of research: 
The results of the analysis will be published in a good (open access) journal and will provide the first UK identification of protective factors which protect children's mental health following exposure to domestic violence and whether these factors are context/demographic dependent.
Date proposal received: 
Tuesday, 6 August, 2019
Date proposal approved: 
Monday, 12 August, 2019
Keywords: 
Epidemiology, Behaviour - e.g. antisocial behaviour, risk behaviour, etc., Mental health, Statistical methods, Cohort studies - attrition, bias, participant engagement, ethics, Childhood - childcare, childhood adversity, Statistical methods, Environment - enviromental exposure, pollution, Parenting, Psychology - personality, Physical - activity, fitness, function, Puberty, Sex differences, Siblings, Social science