Intimate partner violence and child attachment: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 6, 2025
The Other End of the Leash: An Experimental Test to Analyze How Owners Interact with Their Pet Dogs
Published on: October 13, 2017
Clare Bridget Noonan1, Pamela Doreen Pilkington1
1School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Locked Bag 4115 Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia.
Insights
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is linked to insecure child attachment. This systematic review found a significant association between IPV exposure and poorer parent-child attachment, particularly in infancy.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Family Studies
Background:
- Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) negatively impacts child emotional, behavioral, and psychological functioning.
- IPV exposure is associated with impaired child-caregiver attachment, a risk factor for developmental issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and meta-analyze the evidence on the association between Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and child attachment.
- To synthesize findings on IPV's impact on attachment security in infants, children, and adolescents.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and meta-analysis conducted following PRISMA guidelines.
- Included 15 studies examining IPV and parent-child attachment in individuals up to 18 years old.
- Pooled effect sizes calculated using meta-analysis for longitudinal and cross-sectional/retrospective data.
Main Results:
- A significant association was found between IPV and less secure child attachment.
- Pooled effect sizes were small but statistically significant (Pearson's r = -.22 for longitudinal, r = -.10 for cross-sectional/retrospective).
- Effect sizes were larger for infancy and when attachment was measured observationally.
Conclusions:
- Limited literature suggests a clear link between IPV and insecure attachment.
- Findings can guide future research, clinical assessments, and interventions for families affected by IPV.
- Supports the development of attachment- and family-based interventions for IPV-exposed families.
Background:
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is associated with increased risk of impairment to a child's emotional, behavioural, and psychological functioning. Further, the presence of IPV is negatively associated with a child's attachment to their primary caregivers, which is an additional risk factor for social, emotional, and psychological impairment.
Objective:
The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to synthesise the evidence on the association between IPV and the attachment of infants, children, and adolescents to their primary caregiver/s.
Method:
A systematic review was completed, in accordance with the PRISMA statement, on IPV and the parent-child attachment of infants, children, and adolescents (18 years and younger). Meta-analyses were conducted to estimate the magnitude of these associations.
Results:
A total of 15 studies were included. IPV was significantly associated with less secure child attachment. The pooled effect sizes (Pearson's r) for both longitudinal studies (n = 5) and cross-sectional and retrospective studies combined (n = 10) were small (r = -.22, 95 % CI [-.32, -.12], p < .001; r = -.10, 95 % CI [-.203, -.001], p = .048). Subgroup analyses identified that the effect size was larger when IPV and attachment were measured during infancy compared to childhood, and when attachment was measured via observational methods compared to self-report.
Conclusion:
While the current literature base is limited, findings can inform further research alongside clinical assessment and intervention. It can also help guide attachment- and family-based intervention for families impacted by IPV.
More Related Videos
07:56Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure
Published on: September 19, 2019
05:04A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect
Published on: September 22, 2023
Related Concept Videos
03:34Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood
01:20Attachment
01:28Hazan and Shaver's Attachment Styles
01:28Relationship with Parents: Attachment
01:24Attachment Styles
01:27Parenting Styles
Authoritarian Parenting
This style is strict and controlling, with little room for open dialogue. Authoritarian parents demand obedience and often enforce rules with minimal warmth. Children raised this way may lack social skills and initiative, usually comparing themselves to others unfavorably.
Authoritative...