An average of nine incidents were recalled by adults who remembered witnessing partner violence when they were growing up. Most of the research cited used various standardized instruments that measure psychological and other problems. Researchers compared scores of children exposed to partner violence with normed scores or with scores of control groups. Most, but not all, of this body of research found that children who witness violence are significantly more likely to have problems in one or more of the five areas cited than children who do not. These findings do not imply that every child who witnesses partner violence, even frequent and severe violence, will have problems.
Many children are able to cope successfully with disturbing events.
Moreover, this body of research is relatively recent, and its findings are limited by methodological and other difficulties detailed later in this chapter. At this point, researchers are uncertain whether the problems of these children are attributable to exposure to partner violence alone or to the cumulative effect of exposure and other difficulties prevalent in violent homes. Researchers are uncertain whether these types of problems are attributable to exposure to partner violence alone or to the cumulative effect of exposure and other problems prevalent in violent homes. All children exposed to parental partner violence should be given a detailed assessment to determine the nature and impact of their exposure. In encounters with children who have been exposed to partner violence, the possibility of physical and emotional abuse of the child needs to be recognized, along with the potential responsibility for a report to the mandated child abuse and neglect reporting agency.