Eliciting the effects of adults who were victims of domestic violence as children through the experience of their social workers

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to delve into the long-term effects on adults who experienced domestic violence as children, from the professional viewpoints of social workers. This research is considered important for different objectives. Apart from enhancing the support services in the social well-being sector it will help to investigate the difficulties of childhood victims through their lifetime. A further objective is to evaluate the current modus operandi and the crucial contribution of the different stakeholders. Five professional social workers were invited to share their perspectives of situations where they treated victims of domestic abuse. Grounded theory was employed as methodology to guide this research study. Findings were collected through individual semi-structured interviews, with each interview lasting about forty-five minutes. Each interview was recorded and transcribed. A thematic approach was adopted where simultaneously data collection and analysis occurred. Further, the actual analysis consisted of six phases: appropriate analysis to validate results, coding, interpretation of data, reviewing of themes, definition of the different themes and finally the report writing. Continuous comparative analysis was applied throughout. From the literature review and this research, it emerged that there are mainly two elements that could cushion the long-term effects of childhood abuse in adulthood. These are the parents’ influence in their child’s healing process and the timely intervention by professional workers. During the interviews, the need that all stakeholders uphold the notion of domestic violence and thus the various forms it can take was voiced by almost all participants. Furthermore, the findings showed that neglect and emotional abuse are high among the list of sub-categories associated with child abuse. This is mirrored in the literature research which stresses that the dearth of physical and emotional care, together with the absence of a safety household environment, are as well forms of child abuse. Likewise, the social workers insisted that neglect can be a form of ‘silent treatment’ leading to physical abuse. Henceforth, the urge for investigating school absenteeism was uttered by the participants as issues of child abuse could stem. A common characteristic of domestic violence is power and control. Moreover, this abusive experience also impinges on the child’s emotional and physiological characteristics leading to mental health problems. This insight was also reflected during the interviews where the respondents even claimed that childhood victims tend to normalize the abuse and play it down. However, this study also explored the resilience capability of certain victims who despite such traumatic experiences in their lives, they manage to overcome them and succeed in building meaningful relationships. Furthermore, this research clearly highlighted the requirement of a specialised team of front liners consisting of different stakeholders to provide timely and effective interventions. Following the discussion and analysis that emanated from both the literature review and findings, the concluding chapter of this study presents a series of recommendations towards a holistic optimisation of the current and future service provision that would benefit childhood victims of domestic violence. Topping these recommendations are changes in the delivery of information and education together with reengineering of procedures.