Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 12, 2025

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect
05:04

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect

Published on: September 22, 2023

473

Intimate partner violence exposure during infancy and social functioning in middle childhood: An Australian mother

Madison L Schulz1,2, Catherine E Wood1, Alison Fogarty2

  • 1Department of Psychological Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Victoria, Hawthorn, Australia.

Child Development
|October 26, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Early exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) negatively impacts children's social skills and peer relationships. This research highlights the lasting effects of early-life trauma on social development, underscoring the need for timely interventions.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Family Studies

Background:

  • Intimate partner violence (IPV) exposure in early childhood is a significant risk factor for adverse child outcomes.
  • Research has predominantly focused on emotional-behavioral effects, with less attention paid to social functioning.
  • Understanding the long-term social impacts of early IPV is crucial for effective intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between infant exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) and social development in middle childhood.
  • To investigate the specific social functioning domains affected by early-life IPV.
  • To provide evidence supporting the need for social development interventions in children exposed to IPV.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal community-based study utilizing data from 1507 Australian-born children and their mothers.
  • Assessment of IPV exposure during the first 12 months of life.
  • Evaluation of social skills, peer problems, and peer victimization at age 10 years, controlling for concurrent IPV.

Main Results:

  • Infant exposure to IPV was significantly associated with lower social skills at age 10.
  • Children exposed to early IPV exhibited higher levels of peer problems and peer victimization.
  • These associations remained significant even when accounting for ongoing IPV exposure.

Conclusions:

  • Early-life intimate partner violence exposure has demonstrable long-term negative effects on children's social functioning.
  • Interventions targeting social development are essential for children with a history of early IPV exposure.
  • This study emphasizes the critical window of infancy for IPV's impact on social development.

More Related Videos

Moderate Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Quantification of Social Behavior in Adult Rats11:01

Moderate Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Quantification of Social Behavior in Adult Rats

Published on: December 14, 2014

9.8K
Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure07:56

Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure

Published on: September 19, 2019

10.0K

Related Concept Videos

Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
59
Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development01:30

Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development

Social-emotional experiences and cultural influences play significant roles in shaping gender development. During middle childhood, from ages 6 to 11, peer groups become dominant in reinforcing gender norms. Children in this age group often align with same-gender peer groups, which actively encourage behaviors that conform to traditional gender roles. For instance, boys may be discouraged from engaging in activities perceived as feminine, reinforcing culturally dictated norms about masculinity...
35
Attachment01:20

Attachment

Attachment is vital for infant development, as warm social interactions support growth and well-being. In a classic 1958 study by Harry Harlow, the significance of warmth and comfort in forming attachments was examined. Harlow separated newborn monkeys from their mothers and provided two artificial "mothers": one made of cold wire and the other covered in soft cloth. Despite the wire mother offering food, the infant monkeys preferred the comfort of the cloth mother, demonstrating that...
65
Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood03:34

Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood

Attachment is a long-standing connection or bond with others. While Attachment Theory was conceived in developmental psychology to describe infant-caregiver bonding, it's been extended into adulthood to include romantic relationships. 
43.5K
Bullying02:04

Bullying

A modern form of aggression is bullying. As you learn in your study of child development, socializing and playing with other children is beneficial for children’s psychological development. However, as you may have experienced as a child, not all play behavior has positive outcomes. Some children are aggressive and want to play roughly. Other children are selfish and do not want to share toys. One form of negative social interactions among children that has become a national concern is...
8.4K
Relationship Formation02:12

Relationship Formation

What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...
40.0K