DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND MENTAL HEALTH

Heather NancarrowDirectorQueensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research

OVERVIEW OF PRESENTATION

Nature and prevalence Impacts

GeneralBabies and toddlersChildren 4 – 12 yearsYoung people

OVERVIEW OF PRESENTATION

Key initiatives / responses Concluding comments

NATURE

Emotional Verbal Psychological / spiritual Financial abuse Sexual / Physical

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS GENDERED

Victims Perpetrators

87 % female 98% male

(Access Economics, 2004)

Gender differences in:motivation, frequency, severity , outcomes

(Dobash, Dobash, Wilson and Daly, 1992; James ,1999

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS GENDERED

PREVALENCE

Current relationships

*Mouzos & Makkai, 2004

†Nancarrow, Lockie, Sharma, 2009

Australia* Queensland†

Non-physical 37% 31%

Physical 10% 11.5%NB: Indicative – studies not directly comparable

NON-FATAL IMPACTS

Physical injuriesFractures, lacerations, bruises

Reproductive healthSTI, termination, birth complications,

miscarriage

Mental healthDepression, anxiety , eating disorders

traumatic and post-traumatic stress disorder, phobias

NON-FATAL IMPACTS

Unhealthy practicesHarmful tobacco and alcohol use, illicit

drugs

OtherChronic pain, sleep disorders,

homelessness / transience, poverty

FATAL IMPACTS

Homicide

Suicide

STIs

Death during/following childbirth

HOMICIDE

Intimate partner homicide

Australia Queensland

77 p.a. 11 p.a

Mouzos & Rushforth, 2003

NB: Under-counting due to data collection / reporting

HOMICIDE

Homicide of children by parents• Average 25 p.a.• Killer: 63% fathers

Motives:• 3 of 5 cases unknown• 21% - ‘domestic altercation’• 9% - ‘family breakdown’

Mouzos & Rushforth, 2003

MENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS

Physical abuse

Condition

Any physical abuse

Severe physical abuse

Within last 12 months

Sexual abuse

Times more likely

Depression 3.7 10.9 8.8 4.8

Severe psychological symptoms

4.4 13.4 10.7 -

Nancarrow, Lockie and Sharma, 2009

MENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS

Non-physical abuse

Condition

Any non-physical

Psych.

Social-psych.

Economic

Times more likely

Depression3.6 3.0 4.2 4.7

Severe psychological symptoms

5.2 3.7 5.6 4.5

Nancarrow, Lockie and Sharma, 2009

CHILDREN’S REACTIONS

Tension, fear, aggression, uncertainty feelings:

Fear Terror DreadWorry Sadness

Helplessness Numbness

Anger Guilt Self-blame

Shame

IMPACTS: BABIES & TODDLERS Impaired brain development / social

development

Greater irritability

Psychosomatic illness, sleep/eating disorders

Aggression

IMPACTS: CHILDREN 4 – 12 YEARS Poor concentration

Aggression, hyperactivity, disobedience

Disturbed sleep, nightmares

Withdrawal, low self-esteem

Showing no emotion (’spaced out’)

Always on edge, wary

IMPACTS: YOUNG PEOPLE

Depression Suicide Aggression

Sexual/physical violence

Substance abuse

Withdrawal Parental abuse

OPPORTUNITIES

Time for Action

Qld Government strategy

Coming attractions:Battered person’s defence – draft bill

Indigenous Family Violence Prevention Forum

THANK YOU

www.noviolence.com.au

The Q’ld Department of Communities provides triennial funding for the Q’ld Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research to undertake

research, evaluation, sector development and community engagement on issues pertaining to domestic and family violence.