Domestic violence and child well-being: parenting self-efficacy as a developmental pathway

Domestic violence is a pervasive public health and social issue with consequences that extend beyond survivors to affect caregiver functioning, family relationships, and child development. Children may be affected through direct exposure to violence and through disruptions in the caregiving environment, including caregiver trauma, psychological distress, parenting stress, and reduced emotional availability. This commentary examines a proposed developmental pathway linking domestic violence, parenting self-efficacy, and child well-being. Parenting self-efficacy refers to caregivers' beliefs in their ability to effectively carry out parenting responsibilities and positively influence their children's development. Domestic violence may undermine these beliefs by diminishing caregivers' emotional resources, autonomy, and confidence, potentially affecting parenting practices, parent-child relationships, and children's cognitive, emotional, behavioral, social, and physical well-being. Conversely, stronger parenting self-efficacy may support responsive caregiving, emotional security, adaptive coping, and family resilience. The commentary identifies parenting self-efficacy as a potentially modifiable target and proposes priorities for research, practice, and family-centered intervention. These priorities include expanding qualitative research on family experiences and parenting processes, strengthening parenting self-efficacy through trauma-informed and family-centered approaches, and developing developmentally responsive support for children. Addressing the interconnected needs of caregivers and children may strengthen family functioning and reduce the long-term consequences of domestic violence for children and families.